Luzinterruptus’s intention is to carry out an ephemeral installation, “Literature versus traffic”, with light and books on one of the busiest avenues in Manhattan, closing one of its lanes for the use of pedestrians.
To that end, they plan to distribute 2000 illuminated books along the pavement, randomly placed in such a way that people can walk among them easily and stop to look at them or even read them.
Luzinterruptus want literature to seize the streets and become the conqueror of public spaces, freely offering to those who walk by a space free of traffic which for a few hours of the night will succumb to the modest power of the written word.
Thus, an urban space conventionally reserved for speed, pollution and noise, for a few hours will become a place of peacefulness, relaxation and coexistence. Illuminated by a soft, diffuse light which makes us feel comfortable, in a pleasant environment, in spite of the chaos which surrounds us.
The books, of diverse topics will remain, during the entire intervention, at the disposal of anyone who wants to take them, signifying that the installation will recycle itself and be of the duration which the users want it to linger before disappearing.
In the end, the cars will return to occupy their place, but for many, the memory that once books occupied this same space, will change their relationship with the environment and surely they will tell those that accompany them many times that they saw them with their own eyes…
The photos and illustrations show this proposal that Luzinterruptus would like to carry out in New York which they did on 17th February 2010:
Artists own words:
“The literature in the end won the battle against trafficking in New York and during the night of February 17, under the Brooklyn Bridge, Water Street, Dumbo the neighborhood gentrified, was free of cars.
We had to change a bit early in our project we wanted to put 2,000 books in a main avenue in Manhattan because we were unable to find help to manage permits or funding, so in the end, with 800 books and their lights, we get a more than worthy and we all made as we like, so self-managed and with the help of friends.
We must say that our facility Literature versus traffic was made possible by Jorge Martin Vila who was in charge of getting all the material, we sought to locate and we took her to his home during the assembly, which lasted two days .
Alan also do not want to forget who gave us the books and gave the space to manipulate, Kara and Alex who helped us at all times with their knowledge of the city and the transport and Craig Dykers, Who gave us moral and physical support that night as well as something very important, drink to withstand the freezing cold at that hour.
The photos are wonderful as always Gustavo Sanabria who dragged us to the snowy New York.
We hope this will be one first battle of many will be won Against Which traffic.
Time of installation: 2 hours.
Damages: none.
Exhibition time: 7 hours?
Hope this will be our first of many battles, won traffic.”

ARTIST: Luzinterruptus, Madrid, Spain, www.luzinterruptus.com.

CREDITS & COPYRIGHTS: Luzinterruptus. PHOTOES: Gustavo Sanabria.
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