The Future Library project (Norwegian: Framtidsbiblioteket) is a public artwork that aims to collect an original work by a popular writer every year from 2014 to 2114. The works will remain unread and unpublished until 2114. One thousand trees were specially planted for the project in the Nordmarka forest at its inception;[1] the 100 manuscripts will be printed in limited-edition anthologies using paper made from the trees. The Guardian has referred to it as "the world's most secretive library".[2]
History
editThe project was conceived by Katie Paterson during the summer of 2014. It is managed by the Future Library Trust and supported by the City of Oslo, Norway. It was produced for the Slow Space public art program and commissioned by Bjørvika Utvikling, the partly publicly owned corporation developing Bjørvika, Oslo's former container port.[3]
The completed manuscripts are held in a specially designed room at the Deichman Library (Oslo Public Library) in Bjørvika, Oslo,;[4][5] Katie Paterson worked with the architectural team to design this part of the library.[6] The 'Silent Room' where the manuscripts are kept is built using 100 layers of undulating, carved wood from the original trees felled to make way for the new trees planted in 2014, each layer with a glass drawer for the manuscript of the corresponding year; the room was first opened to the public in 2022.[7][8] Although the collected works are on display, the manuscripts are not available for reading until the project completes in 2114.
One thousand certificates entitling the holder to the full 100-work anthology when published in 2114 are being sold by the artist's galleries: Ingleby Gallery (Edinburgh), James Cohan Gallery (New York) and Parafin (London). Initially sold for £625, the price increased to £800 in 2017 and subsequently higher.[9][10] The certificates, double-sided and printed on hand-made paper (also made from the original trees felled for the project), depict a cross section of a tree with 100 tree-rings symbolising the time period for the project.
Contributors
editThe identity of each contributing author is announced yearly each autumn; they then submit their manuscripts to the collection in early summer the following year at a public 'handover ceremony' in the forest where the trees are growing. Contributors to the collection so far:
- 2014 – Margaret Atwood, Scribbler Moon, submitted 27 May 2015.[11][12]
- 2015 – David Mitchell, From Me Flows What You Call Time, submitted 28 May 2016[13]
- 2016 – Sjón, As My Brow Brushes On The Tunics Of Angels or The Drop Tower, the Roller Coaster, the Whirling Cups and other Instruments of Worship from the Post-Industrial Age, submitted 2 June 2017[14][15]
- 2017 – Elif Shafak, The Last Taboo, submitted 2 June 2018[16][17]
- 2018 – Han Kang, Dear Son, My Beloved, submitted 25 May 2019[2][18]
- 2019 – Karl Ove Knausgård,[19] Blind Book, submitted 12 June 2022
- 2020 – Ocean Vuong,[20] King Philip, submitted 21 May 2023
- 2021 – Tsitsi Dangarembga,[21] Narini and Her Donkey, submitted 12 June 2022
- 2022 – Judith Schalansky, Fluff and Splinters: A Chronicle, submitted 21 May 2023
- 2023 – Valeria Luiselli, The Force of Resonance, submitted 26 May 2024
- 2024 – Tommy Orange[22]
The Future Library Trust's committee of trustees make a new selection annually based on the criteria "outstanding contributions to literature or poetry, and for their work's ability to capture the imagination of this and future generations".[23] Umberto Eco and Tomas Tranströmer, both deceased as of 2016, were previously considered as potential contributors. All other authors approached by Paterson are believed to have accepted the invitation.[24]
Critical reception
editThe Future Library project has been generally met with interest and intrigue by the media, though it has attracted criticism from some for its emphasis on preventing readership between 2014 and 2114.[25] Writing for Flavorwire, Moze Halperin called the project "art whose intention is to exclude a few generations" and criticized the class exclusivity planned for the works even after they are released.[26]
Notes
editOne of the few details known about the books was revealed accidentally when David Mitchell stated that his book quotes the lyrics of "Here Comes the Sun", a song expected to enter the public domain in the late 21st century.[24]
References
edit- ^ "'Future Library' Reminds Us How Connected Books And The Environment Really Are". The Huffington Post. 10 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-10-22. Retrieved 2015-08-09.
- ^ a b Flood, Alison (2018-08-31). "Han Kang to bury next book for almost 100 years in Norwegian forest". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2018-10-23. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
- ^ "Future Library – Framtidsbiblioteket – Katie Paterson". p. About. Archived from the original on 2015-08-01. Retrieved 2015-08-09.
- ^ Thorpe, Vanessa (23 November 2014). "Reader offer: buy a Katie Paterson Future Library limited-edition print". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ "In English". Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2015-08-09.
- ^ "Creatives in profile – interview with Katie Paterson". nothingintherulebook. 2018-05-23. Archived from the original on 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
- ^ Prisco, Jacopo (2018-11-22). "Read Margaret Atwood's new novel... in 100 years". CNN Style. Archived from the original on 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
- ^ Goldsmith, Rosie (2022-06-14). "Future Library opens secret archive of unseen texts in Oslo". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ Thorpe, Vanessa (2014-11-23). "Reader offer: buy a Katie Paterson Future Library limited-edition print". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
- ^ "Future Library | Edition | Ingleby Gallery". www.inglebygallery.com. Archived from the original on 2015-08-17. Retrieved 2015-08-09.
- ^ Flood, Alison (2014-09-05). "Margaret Atwood's new work will remain unseen for a century". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2018-11-10. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
- ^ Alison Flood, Into the woods: Margaret Atwood reveals her Future Library book, Scribbler Moon Archived 2018-11-16 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian, 27 May 2015
- ^ Clarke, Patrick (31 May 2016). "David Mitchell buries manuscript for Future Library project". The Bookseller. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
- ^ Cowdrey, Katherine (14 October 2016). "Icelandic writer Sjón named next Future Library contributor". The Bookseller. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
- ^ Hovind, Anne Beate. "Join us as Sjón presents his manuscript to Future Library". MailChimp. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- ^ Flood, Alison (2017-10-27). "Elif Shafak joins Future Library, writing piece to be unveiled in 2114". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
- ^ "Future Library Upcoming Events". Archived from the original on 2018-02-21.
- ^ Yonhap (2019-05-27). "Han Kang hands over book to Norway's Future Library project". The Korean Herald. Archived from the original on 2019-09-10. Retrieved 2019-09-10.
- ^ Flood, Alison (2019-10-20). "Karl Ove Knausgaard's latest work to remain unseen until 2114". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2020-03-03. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
- ^ "'You'll have to die to get these texts': Ocean Vuong's next manuscript to be unveiled in 2114". the Guardian. 2020-08-19. Archived from the original on 2020-10-18. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
- ^ "'Tsitsi Dangarembga's next work won't be read by anyone until 2114". the Guardian. 2021-08-25. Archived from the original on 2021-08-25. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
- ^ Creamer, Ella (August 12, 2024). "Native American author Tommy Orange selected as the next Future Library writer". The Guardian. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ Mumford, Tracy (29 May 2015). "A library that won't be read for 100 years". www.mprnews.org. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2015-08-09.
- ^ a b Wood, Gaby (2017-01-13). "The Future Library: Why you face a big wait to read any of the books". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2018-09-11. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
- ^ Tiede, Maggie (2018-09-05). "Margaret Atwood, Han Kang, and more will bury their new novels for 100 years. What do you think about the Future Library Project?". Archived from the original on 2018-11-19. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
- ^ Halperin, Moze (2016-05-06). "John Malkovich's Silly Cognac-Based '100 Years' Project Raises Important Questions, Even If We'll Never See It". Flavorwire. Archived from the original on 2018-09-11. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
