Presented by Te Tuhi in partnership with Te Wai Ngutu Kākā, Shubigi Rao’s exhibition, Pulp III: A Short Biography of the Banished Book, takes the form of a book, film and paper maze, to explore the precarity and persistence of endangered languages, the futures of knowledge, public and alternative libraries, and the cosmopolitanism of regional print communities that have blossomed and waned in historic centres of print.

Originally commissioned for the Singapore Pavilion at the 59th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, and curated by Ute Meta Bauer, Pulp III marks the midpoint of Shubigi Rao’s evocative 10-year project, Pulp, which explores the history of book destruction and those who persist in its margins to protect the futures of knowledge.

Set in the historic cities of print of Venice and Singapore, her film, Talking Leaves, explores the tales of those at the frontlines of saving books and libraries, by ways of personal confidences and poetic reflections, documentary and mytho-poetic languages. Her book, Pulp III: An Intimate Inventory of the Banished Book, chronicles her long-term artistic research process and conceptual reframing of the book and the library.

Pulp III: A Short Biography of the Banished Book is a lyrical manuscript that charts the breadth of human cultural endeavour through shared stories of humanity and communities of print.

Note: this exhibition is presented at Te Wai Ngutu Kākā Gallery (see opposite for full address).

Te Tuhi, in association with Te Wai Ngutu Kākā Gallery, Auckland Writers Festival and SATELLITES are hosting several events alongside the Aotearoa presentation of Pulp III: A Short Biography of the Banished Book. For more information click here