The Annotated Reader

About

Bonington Gallery closes temporarily with immediate effect

We regret that in response to the COVID-19 crisis Bonington Gallery has closed until further notice.

While the gallery is closed, we will be working on other ways of sharing art and ideas across our digital platforms.  Follow our website and social media channels for videos, conversations and more.

Our office hours are 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday. Most of the team will be working remotely during this time but will be reachable via email. Please email boningtongallery@ntu.ac.uk with any enquiries, and for further information regarding postponed or cancelled events.

Thank you to all our visitors and supporters – we hope it is not too long before we can welcome you back to the Gallery.

“Imagine you’ve missed the last train. Is there one piece of writing that you would want with you for company in the small hours?”

Artist Ryan Gander and critic and writer Jonathan P. Watts put this question to 281 of the leading artists, academics, writers, musicians and designers working today, inviting them to propose such a piece of writing complete with their personal annotations. These annotations have the effect of adding a further layer, making each piece unique and complicating the relationships between image and text, reading and looking.

First launched during Frieze London 2018, The Annotated Reader is now embarking on an international tour, with the aim of disseminating knowledge freely and equally. Texts suggested from the likes of Marina Abramović, Art & Language, Paul Clinton, Ragnar Kjartansson, Sarah Lucas and Hans Ulrich Obrist will be physically presented across the walls of the gallery in specially adapted ring binders. Viewers will then be invited to remove texts and assemble their own collections, and utilise the furniture in the space for moments of quiet reading or group discussion. A vending machine will also allow visitors to purchase USB sticks that contain the entire catalogue of texts.

Image © Andy Holden, Nobody’s Perfect, Charlie Brown, 1969, Charles M. Schulz.