Just from my perspective, I thought that this was sub-optimal, two artists who decided that burning books and making them into totems was making some sort of statement. But, artwork is perhaps mostly about trying to get a reaction from the viewer, whether that’s wonder, anger, delight, surprise or inquisitiveness, so the fact I’m writing about this is testament to they engaged me in some form so that’s a statement.
There was still the smell of burnt book in the air. Burning books is such an easy thing to do, but I rather like the words of Helen Keller:
“History has taught you nothing if you think you can kill ideas. Tyrants have tried to do that often before, and the ideas have risen up in their might and destroyed them. You can burn my books and the books of the best minds in Europe, but the ideas in them have seeped through a million channels and will continue to quicken other minds.”
Or, linking it to Lithuania, here’s the bravery of those involved with the Book Smugglers. But, each to their own, artworks are meant to attract a range of responses. NB, the thumbnail image is of Helen Keller, the great campaigner for those with disabilities, for women’s suffrage, tolerance and world peace.