Artist Uses 100,000 Banned Books To Build A Full-Size Parthenon At Historic Nazi Book Burning Site
Argentinian artist Marta Minujín, 74, has created a monumental replica of the Greek Parthenon from 100,000 copies of banned books. According to the artist, it symbolizes the resistance to political repression.
The Parthenon of Books in Kassel, Germany is part of the Documenta 14 art festival. With the help of students from Kassel University, Minujín identified over 170 titles that were or are banned in different countries around the world, and constructed the full-size replica of the iconic temple from those books, plastic sheeting, and steel.
But probably what is Germany’s most controversial book – Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” – will not figure on the Parthenon. And for a good reason: the Nazis were notorious censors of books. In fact, Minujín’s work stands on a historic site where the Nazis burnt some 2,000 books in 1933 as part of a very broad campaign of censorship. “Where they burn books, at the end they also burn people,” Heinrich Heine said in the 19th century.
More info: documenta14.de (h/t: mmm)
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magic is evil!! but pedophilia is good according the the vatican
Load More Replies...But what will happen if the book you want is part of a pillar?
Load More Replies...While I love it and it's impressive as hell, that's a lot of plastic wrap :/
Pretty much in every communist state thrugh history and in some military anti-imperialist dictatorships. Franco in Spain banned it, Cahvez in Venezuela also did it.
Load More Replies...I noticed Twilight in there. That should be banned because it's awful writing, nothing else.
I really love books, and every kind of arts. And this is both of them :)
The pictures make it look good. It looks not that good in person. I live in the city and they only built it for the documenta
It is a great thing to do to keep reminding us of our history. Who knows maybe in 100 years it will be made from banned internet websites:)
It is more than 2500 different titles hanging and currently just above 50000 books. Also people can still send banned books to be a part of the project and check out the list of banned books (far over 100000 titles) here: http://www.documenta14.de/en/news/1601/call-for-book-donations If you need more info, I did not find an easier way to contact you. Not using this site. I'm one of the students working on this project. :)
ironic, the banned books in the structure, are inaccessible for use....... I get the symbolism. But for the money and effort, why not build a bibliothek?
The books will be donated at the end of the festival, Minujín did the same work in Argentina in 1983 to celebrate democracy and the books were also donated at the end.
Load More Replies...Beautiful, and important. I wonder if, when the festival is over, the artist will provide scissors so people can cut out books they want?
This is amazing, but won't the books get ruined if it rains? Hopefully that plastic is very strong. I would love see it :)
It's just crazy to understand how many mind opening books have been banned or are currently banned. For years after 9-11, the Secretary General of the UN's book was banned in the U.S . Teen author, Jud Bloom's book, "It's me, God" is still banned in some school district's.
I dn't get the purpose if a list of banned books/ by/ countries isn't done ...
I feel like at a certain point every book has been banned in at least one place...
Those sheets of plastic wrapped like that is making me uneasy... I can't breathe!
I disagree. I prefer my art to be aesthetically pleasing. This is a wire-frame monstrosity.
Load More Replies...It's okay. A Mickey Mouse comic book was up there. So, that makes it all okay.
Brilliant artist rendering a brilliant message, one which needs to be remembered lest one of the darkest chapters in human history be repeated once again.
The article is misleading. It states that the artist "created a monumental replica of the Greek Parthenon from 100,000 copies of banned books". It isn't a work of art 'built from' books, but a wire-frame construct 'decorated' with books. Quite a big difference. And boring.
Load More Replies...Fantastic! A brilliant artist with a brilliant message, a message which should never be forgotten, lest an exceedingly dark chapter of human history should be repeated again.
Making stuff out of unexpected stuff isn't that much of a news anymore.
Load More Replies...Build a Parthenon-sized Kremlin Butt and stick all the media talking heads up it.
Load More Replies...What if, instead of horrible conceptual art, we use the money to donate books to those who can´t afford them?
My thoughts exactly but if it helps, the artist donates a good chunk of the money from her expositions to charities in Argentina.
Load More Replies...I actually felt pretty horrified seeing those books on the walls outside. I get the intent but one way or another some of those books are going to be damaged. Not exactly an ideal place for them despite all the plastic. Would have been better if people could actually read them.
So should people like you. Harry Potter is better in so many ways.
Load More Replies...I read that at the end of the presentation. The books are given away for free.
Load More Replies...magic is evil!! but pedophilia is good according the the vatican
Load More Replies...But what will happen if the book you want is part of a pillar?
Load More Replies...While I love it and it's impressive as hell, that's a lot of plastic wrap :/
Pretty much in every communist state thrugh history and in some military anti-imperialist dictatorships. Franco in Spain banned it, Cahvez in Venezuela also did it.
Load More Replies...I noticed Twilight in there. That should be banned because it's awful writing, nothing else.
I really love books, and every kind of arts. And this is both of them :)
The pictures make it look good. It looks not that good in person. I live in the city and they only built it for the documenta
It is a great thing to do to keep reminding us of our history. Who knows maybe in 100 years it will be made from banned internet websites:)
It is more than 2500 different titles hanging and currently just above 50000 books. Also people can still send banned books to be a part of the project and check out the list of banned books (far over 100000 titles) here: http://www.documenta14.de/en/news/1601/call-for-book-donations If you need more info, I did not find an easier way to contact you. Not using this site. I'm one of the students working on this project. :)
ironic, the banned books in the structure, are inaccessible for use....... I get the symbolism. But for the money and effort, why not build a bibliothek?
The books will be donated at the end of the festival, Minujín did the same work in Argentina in 1983 to celebrate democracy and the books were also donated at the end.
Load More Replies...Beautiful, and important. I wonder if, when the festival is over, the artist will provide scissors so people can cut out books they want?
This is amazing, but won't the books get ruined if it rains? Hopefully that plastic is very strong. I would love see it :)
It's just crazy to understand how many mind opening books have been banned or are currently banned. For years after 9-11, the Secretary General of the UN's book was banned in the U.S . Teen author, Jud Bloom's book, "It's me, God" is still banned in some school district's.
I dn't get the purpose if a list of banned books/ by/ countries isn't done ...
I feel like at a certain point every book has been banned in at least one place...
Those sheets of plastic wrapped like that is making me uneasy... I can't breathe!
I disagree. I prefer my art to be aesthetically pleasing. This is a wire-frame monstrosity.
Load More Replies...It's okay. A Mickey Mouse comic book was up there. So, that makes it all okay.
Brilliant artist rendering a brilliant message, one which needs to be remembered lest one of the darkest chapters in human history be repeated once again.
The article is misleading. It states that the artist "created a monumental replica of the Greek Parthenon from 100,000 copies of banned books". It isn't a work of art 'built from' books, but a wire-frame construct 'decorated' with books. Quite a big difference. And boring.
Load More Replies...Fantastic! A brilliant artist with a brilliant message, a message which should never be forgotten, lest an exceedingly dark chapter of human history should be repeated again.
Making stuff out of unexpected stuff isn't that much of a news anymore.
Load More Replies...Build a Parthenon-sized Kremlin Butt and stick all the media talking heads up it.
Load More Replies...What if, instead of horrible conceptual art, we use the money to donate books to those who can´t afford them?
My thoughts exactly but if it helps, the artist donates a good chunk of the money from her expositions to charities in Argentina.
Load More Replies...I actually felt pretty horrified seeing those books on the walls outside. I get the intent but one way or another some of those books are going to be damaged. Not exactly an ideal place for them despite all the plastic. Would have been better if people could actually read them.
So should people like you. Harry Potter is better in so many ways.
Load More Replies...I read that at the end of the presentation. The books are given away for free.
Load More Replies...
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