Avoid Placing Art Installations on the Beach
**Es Devlin’s “Library of Us”: A Reflective Beach Installation in Miami**
Es Devlin’s “Library of Us” is a striking piece of art that juxtaposes the serene ambiance of Miami Beach with the turmoil of modern distractions. Located on the sands at 32nd and Collins, the installation is a 50-foot revolving library designed to inspire visitors to reconnect with the act of reading. Partnered with Faena Art, Devlin’s project is filled with a diverse collection of books, making it both a visual and intellectual spectacle. The aim is clear: to draw people away from their smartphones and back into the world of written words.
This revolving library is not just a static display but an interactive experience. The library’s central triangular bookshelf towers within a reflecting pool, flanked by individual stations where visitors can immerse themselves in literary works ranging from Margaret Atwood’s “Oryx and Crake” to Pablo Neruda’s poems. Devlin’s vision involves setting a “reading table,” refreshed daily with different books, promoting interaction with new texts and fellow readers.
However, the opening night revealed the inherent challenge of the installation: the cultural compulsion to document rather than experience. The attendees, including the author, quickly shifted their focus from reading to capturing the moment on their phones, ironically subverting the installation’s purpose. Against the backdrop of Devlin’s reflective quotes and spinning visual spectacle, the crowd’s engagement remained firmly mediated through their digital screens.
This dichotomy underscores a poignant commentary on contemporary society’s fragmented attention span. While “Library of Us” brilliantly highlights the barriers to deep reading and reflection, it also prompts introspection about our relationship with technology and art’s place within it. Devlin’s creation serves as both a mirror and a critique of our times, encapsulating the struggle between engagement and distraction.
Ultimately, “Library of Us” challenges viewers to question their consumption of art and media. While the installation’s spectacle is captivating, it inadvertently emphasizes the very distractions it seeks to overcome. Devlin’s work remains a symbol of hope for renewed literary engagement, even as it wrestles with the pervasive influence of modern technology. As the installation continues its run, one might wonder if future visitors will take its message to heart, setting aside their devices to truly inhabit the moment and the text.