The London Library Artist Residency
A 12-month Artist Residency at the London Library by artists Mark Harris and Bob Matthews. The London Library is one of the world's leading literary institutions established in 1841. It has over a million books and 17 miles of shelving. Harris and Matthews approached the library to set up this inaugural artist residency, aiming to act as a bridge to create stronger links between the Library and the contemporary artworld. Both artist’s practices and academic experience draws upon a wide knowledge and specialism of the processes of print production and the history of the printed image. They intended to use the residency to re-consider the London Library collection through a purely visual lens, researching new ways for members to approach this unique literary collection. The subsequent findings were used to develop new artworks that were exhibited throughout the Library.
London Library magazine article on residency






Installation shots of work in The London Library 2020


Dead Room
180 x 259cm Cyanotype 2020
Dead room detail
180 x 259cm cyanotype 2020
sketch for dead room
50x70cm cyanotype 2020
sketch for dead room (detail)
50x70cm cyanotype 2020
Words vs Music
Cyanotype and Collage 50 x35cm
Radio vs Theatre
Cyanotype and Collage 50 x35cm
La Houle
Cyanotype and Collage 50 x35cm
Viva
Cyanotype and Collage 50 x35cm
Caddington Club
50 x35cm Cyanotype and Collage 2020
To the thinkers only…
50 x35cm Cyanotype and Collage 2020
…calling plate
50 x35cm Cyanotype and Collage 2020
…calling baxter
50 x35cm Cyanotype and Collage 2020
as it was…
50 x35cm Cyanotype and Collage 2020
as it is…
50 x35cm Cyanotype and Collage 2020
as it might be…
50 x35cm Cyanotype and Collage 2020
Elements of Editing 1 (cardboard)
50 x35cm Cyanotype 2020
Elements of Editing 1 (gold)
50 x35cm Cyanotype 2020
Elements of Editing 1 (plastic)
50 x35cm Cyanotype 2020
Elements of Editing 2 (coal)
50 x35cm Cyanotype 2020
Elements of Editing 2 (bone)
50 x35cm Cyanotype 2020
Elements of Editing 2 (salt)
50 x35cm Cyanotype 2020
Elements of Editing 3 (ceramic)
50 x35cm Cyanotype 2020
Elements of Editing 3 (metal)
50 x35cm Cyanotype 2020
Elements of Editing 3 (glass)
50 x35cm Cyanotype 2020