Library of Traces/Traces of Libraries is a social art project that aims to create Artists Books, artworks that generally reference the book object, using collected images of marginalia and other traces left inside Walter Benjamin's essay 'The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction'. Fifty University Libraries have been invited to take part in this social art project by posting me back photocopied image(s) of the marginalia and any other traces that they find in their copy of Benjamin's essay.
The art project acts as one of the practice components of my PhD research study that explores ideas around shared property, generosity and circulation in social art practice to expand the definition and understanding of relational art. The art project also looks at the library as a collective site and the books as medium to connect people. About me: My name is Noriko Suzuki-Bosco and I am an artist researcher undertaking a practice-based PhD study at Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton. I have a background in Fine Art Painting and hold a very strong interest in socially engaged ways of art making. I also work part-time at the Winchester School of Art Library. I am a book lover and a library enthusiast.