The Winston Smith Library of Victory and Truth
Drop by the library to view the temporary exhibition, The Winston Smith Library of Victory and Truth by artist Hans K Clausen.
A visual art installation, a sculpture, a library, a museum, a curiosity, a venue, consisting solely of one novel, 1,984 copies of George Orwell’s iconic novel 1984, donated and sourced from around the world.
‘The Library’ forms a living, touring artwork and a forum for creativity, curiosity and conversation.
Many of the copies carry the evidence and patina of their previous ownership, underlinings and footnotes from a studying student, library stamps and names of borrowers, incidental inclusions of lost bookmarks, pressed flowers, birthday wishes or thanks for help, or simply the wear and tear of readership.
‘The Library’ exists to amplify the enduring significance of Orwell’s final novel (the first book I can remember reading to the end). It stands as a monument to publishing and the defiance of the printed word, and to affirm the timeless power of human storytelling to transcend borders, cultures and ideologies. It should be a celebration of the ethos and principles of public libraries, the pleasure and enlightenment of reading, and the timeless joy of holding a book in your hands.
Students, staff and visitors are warmly invited to come and view this thought-provoking installation.
This is a collaborative exhibition between the University of Stirling Art Collection and the Centre for Research into Information, Surveillance and Privacy (CRISP). While the exhibition is on, there will be a series of events relating to 1984, please keep an eye on the website for more details.
About CRISP
CRISP is a collaborative initiative between the University of Stirling’s Management School, The University of St Andrews, the University of Edinburgh’s School of Social and Political Sciences and School of Law, the University of Essex and Coventry University's Centre for Business in Society.
CRISP's research focuses on the political, legal, economic and social dimensions of the surveillance society. CRISP’s core aim is to generate and disseminate new knowledge about ‘information, surveillance and privacy'.