(un)critical proximity (prologue)

Temporary Queer Library
February 8 – March 9, 2024

“The imaginary is not formed in opposition to reality as its denial or compensation; it grows among signs, from book to book, in the interstice of repetitions and commentaries; it is born and takes shape in the interval between books. It is a phenomenon of the library.”
— Michel Foucault, “Fantasia of the Library,” 1967

We are continually exploring ways to articulate the expansive array of thoughts and emotions dwelling within us. The motivations driving this form of communication are diverse, yet they all share a common instinct: the desire to be understood.

Our attempts to convey these thoughts and emotions manifest in various forms, encompassing sounds, movements, images, and symbols. When executed skillfully, these expressions closely approximate what they represent, possessing the capacity not only to convey information but also to evoke emotions and instigate transformative change within us.

(un)critical proximity (prologue) operates as a queer temporary library, amalgamated from diverse sources of ephemeral evidence such as literature, illustrated technical periodicals, ’zines, small-press books, and pamphlet literature. It serves as an experiment in reimagining the library as a living, collaborative, iterative, and processual form of cocreation. Each category of literary works documents hidden treasures of the queer experience and voices—voices that have been, and still are, at risk of being erased by the heteronormative domination of power.

On a broader scale, we are exploring alternative modes of knowing as a practice to navigate a space for action and (un)learning, challenging the very concept of critique and “(un)critical.” The former denotes the ability to judge and discern, while the latter involves the process of deconstructing decisions, judgments, and discernments. Thus, we situate criticality, albeit not explicitly, as a heightened awareness of a situation, an understanding of the stakes involved, and an exploration of alternatives within a field dominated by others. Criticality becomes a desire to comprehend how to actively and bodily engage in this context.

Conceived by Michal Leszuk

Open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM