11" THE WAR LIBRARY

The War Library is an exploration of the legacy of war and conflict brought about by imperial ambitions. The installation consists of 5,700 books bound in Dutch wax printed cotton. Written in gold on the spines of 2,700 books are names of global conflicts and peace treaties, which were a direct or indirect result of imperial ambitions. The conflicts and treaties represented are from any historical period and offer a snapshot from around the world. The War Library is therefore by no means meant to be a complete list of all conflict and peace processes but instead is a reflection on how they are currently presented in the public realm. This is in recognition of the fact that views on conflict and peace are always subjective. Many of the names of the conflicts and treaties appear on two books, under different names, and this is again to reflect the subjective nature of these histories and to ensure that opposing perspectives are represented.

The WAR Library

The War Library is currently on display at Serpentine Galleries as part of Yinka Shonibare CBE’s Suspended States exhibition, from 12 April 2024 until 1 September 2024.

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