Focal Point Gallery, 2013, Softcover, 1056 pages, 22 × 15 cm
An Invocation: Five Hundred and Thirty Books from Southend Central Library accompanied British artist Mike Nelson’s permanent commission for the launch of Focal Point Gallery, Southend-on-Sea in 2013. Using a selection of books chosen from the former library’s withdrawn stock, Nelson created a permanent installation, concealed within the internal cavity walls of the new gallery.
As the only visible record of the hidden artwork, this artist’s publication documents the covers of the five hundred and thirty books, which have been methodically documented and reproduced over 1,000 pages.