Es Devlin Makes Miami Beach Her Library

A spinning, 50-foot-long arena of books, sound and spectacle.

Summary

• British designer Es Devlin erects “Library of Us” on Faena Beach for the occasion of Miami Art Week
• At 50-feet-long, the rotating installation houses 2,500 titles, reflecting an ardent ode to literature, collectivity and the environment’s natural rhythms

From Leandro Erlich’s underwater traffic jam to Pilar Zeta’s iridescent beachside castle, off-site highlights from this year’s Miami Art Week are barely on shore. If you’re looking to catch a breather from fairground chaos, British designer Es Devlin‘s 50-foot rotating library is the perfect spot to catch up on some reading and views.

Part of the Faena Arts program, “Library of Us” gathers 2,500 titles on its triangular bookshop, emblazoned with a 34-foot-long strip of LED text. Every 10 minutes, the structure spins on a metallic plinth, casting vivid hues on the surrounding water below. Visitors are encouraged to take a seat at its roving, two-ring circular table, as new drifting passages lends the piece a quiet, poetic sense of togetherness.

Above the spectacle sounds a 250-excerpt audio score, read by Devlin herself, bringing a sonic depth to the immersive experience. Memories, literary fragments and music play out in a polyphonic field of voices, as the monument beneath moves with the rhythms of the tides.

In partnership with Penguin Random House, all 2,500 books will be donated to public libraries, schools and community organizations across Miami following the closing date on December 7 at Faena Beach.