Floating World at Fermanagh County Museum, Enniskillen

29 September until 31 October 2010

In October Floating World will be creating two site specific installations at Enniskillen Museum. The installations will display work by members of the public alongside works by Floating World artists. In the run up to the show Andy Parsons has been working with members of the public to make artists books onsite at the museum, and at the ‘Book House’ in Cavan. This part of the project aims to provide everyone with a voice to relate ideas, share images, thoughts, insights and memories.

The works will be displayed in two areas. In the main part of the Museum Floating World will partly repopulate one
of the giant display cases with Artists books. The display case currently displays objects illustrating the history of
photography in Enniskillen. The idea of including artists books in this context is based on simple things, like the similarity between the equipment used by book binders and early photographers, and more complex ideas about reproduction,memory and identity.

Amongst the works occupying the case, will be new works by Sarah Carne, who is creating a number of books based on the I-Spy Series. The books will mimic the originals in style but replace the familiar content with new narratives.

The idea of re-framing something that already exists, to change and create a new thought for it, is the common
denominator for both the books and the method of display. The second area where Floating World will be showing will be in the 19th Century Powder Magazine. The installation takes its inspiration from two soldiers in the courtyard, which are similar to the life size cut-out figures that you stick your head through at the seaside. The Magazine will be full of life size figures holding aloft books for visitor to pick up and flick through, creating a dramatic and visually arresting backdrop to the books.

Fermanagh County Museum,
Enniskillen Castle, Castle Barracks,
Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, N. Ireland, BT74 7HL
www.enniskillencastle.co.uk