A BOOK AFFAIR was a collaborative project between Radio Athènes and Goethe Institut.
The term is used to describe a situation in which one is reading a short casual fun book, while attempting to read a much longer more complex book. In this spirit, a temporary library/stage was created, which was open to the public for the run of several months (May-November 2018). Within this period Greek and international publishers, authors, editors and artists were invited to present their work in lectures, talks, performances, and book signings. The selection spanned art, critical theory, philosophy, fashion, literature, psychoanalysis, architecture and design, a mix of ‘fun books’ and more ‘complex reading’. The link between editors, artists, publishers, writers, choreographers and theorists involved in A BOOK AFFAIR was contemporary art and reading as a state / activity that involves not only the mind but also the body, in creating meaning and a new poetics. Reading as a methodological and transformational bridge. A BOOK AFFAIR was an experiment that approached the library as a space of inter-textuality, creation, un-creation, and recreation-to borrow some concepts that Michel Foucault evokes in his essay "Fantasia of the Library" (1977). Radio Athènes was transformed by Berlin based architect Étienne Descloux into a ‘stage’ as well as a ‘vessel’ for the collection of objects, books and works of art that were presented as the project evolves.
SPRING/SUMMER EVENT
#1 Giti Nourbakhsch: The Golden Jaguar with a Thin Red Stripe ; Friday 11 May, 7:30pm @ Radio Athènes
#2 Gregory Brooks: Rare Books Paris ; Wednesday 23 May, 7:30pm @ Radio Athènes
#3 THOMAS BOUTOUX & JOACHIM HAMOU present PARAGUAY PRESS ; Friday 8 June, 7:30pm @ Radio Athènes
#4 Makis Malafekas: De Les Kouventa (Hush Hush) ; Friday 8 June, 8:45pm @ Radio Athènes
#5 Codex DESTE ; Thursday 14 June, 7:30pm @ Radio Athènes
#6 THEODOROS GIANNAKIS ; Friday 22 June, 7:30pm @ Radio Athènes
FALL/WINTER EVENTS
#8 Karlwirsum ; Tue. 11 September, 7:30pm @ Radio Athènes
#9 Bill: Julie Peeters, Rosalind Nashashibi, Elena Narbutaite ; Thu. 20 September, 7:30pm @ Radio Athènes and bar
#10 An Encyclopedia of Practices, A Project by Lenio Kaklea ; Mon. 8 October, 7pm @ Radio Athènes
