British artist Es Devlin transformed Faena Beach in Miami into an breathtaking public arena for reading, reflection and collective encounter. Devlin’s monumental installation Library of Us, commissioned by Faena Art to mark its tenth anniversary, unfolds as a 50-foot rotating triangular bookshelf set within a shallow circular reflecting pool on the Miami beachfront.
Filled with 2,500 books that have profoundly influenced Devlin’s life, philosophy and artistic practice, the installation slowly revolves like a compass needle. Surrounding it is a 70-foot collective reading table with concentric seating, an outer static ring and an inner ring that rotates in harmony with the sculpture. As visitors sit, they encounter shifting perspectives, new texts and new faces, echoing the dynamic exchange of ideas that libraries foster.
An integrated LED strip displays phrases from 250 selected works throughout the day, accompanied by an original audio score of Devlin’s voice and music by Polyphonia. Library of Usdraws on Devlin’s long-standing exploration of libraries as living spaces of connection and imagination, making the beach itself a temporary society gathered in around literature.
