Alexandru Balgiu is a man of many parts: an active reader, poet, publisher, bibliophile, radio enthusiast and teacher, including at his alma mater, École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. His skilful and eclectic editorial practice centres on the dissemination of words and their graphic landscapes. Balgiu’s exuberant affinity with reading translates into a variety of proposals, experiences and objects which allow ample scope for successful collective creativity. In 2016 Alexandru Balgiu began work on Designing Writing: a research project which proposes an intimate exploration of graphic design and literature, from the perspective of poetry and publishing.
Alexandru Balgiu
Design
Jan. Dec. 2021
Project
Bibliothèque vivante Kujoyama (Kujoyama Living Library)
Alexandru Balgiu not only made Villa Kujoyama itself the object of research; he transformed it into a living thing. The idea of creating a Living Library arose from his studies of two artistic histories of reading, in France and in Japan, and from the similarities and differences he observed between the two practices. A space where inter-media encounters can take place, the library is an inspiring, re-energising place to explore and think, visually and historically.
Bibliothèque Vivante Kujoyama unfolds in three stages: document, event, publication. Its purpose is to offer a perspective on the distribution and sharing of knowledge in a festive, mobile, digital and experimental way. The library is a welcoming space for encounters between artists and visitors whose editorial line extends from the Villa to the city and its residents. It is a celebration of the sensorial nature of the act, tools and practices of reading.
Interview
Crédits
©Younès-Klouche