The Bidoun Library is a collection of books, catalogs, journals, and ephemera that traces contemporary art practices as well as the evolution of the various art scenes of the Middle East. This peripatetic new resource had its first outing at Abu Dhabi Art, November 19–22, 2009, and is now being developed as a touring, pop-up resource.

The project space allows visitors to explore, research, and create wide-ranging connections through materials that are generally unavailable commercially. We have focused particularly on materials created by and for artists, as well as those published by independent organizations based in the Middle East.

Besides print materials, the library includes music programs compiled by artists, including Hassan Khan and Tiffany Malakooti, presented via iPod listening posts, and screens for browsing the Middle Eastern section, curated by Bidoun, of the avant-garde sound and film archive website UbuWeb. Featured independent publishers in this first version of the library include Ashkal Alwan and the Arab Image Foundation.

Banu Cennetoğlu, a founder of the Istanbul artist-run publisher BAS, has curated a section dedicated to artist’s books, while Samandal, the Lebanese artists’ collective that creates trilingual comics, presents a collection of influential comic books and magazines.

In 2009-2010, the library is presented in partnership with Abu Dhabi Art.

Downlaod the 2009 Bidoun Library catalogue here [pdf].
Downlaod the 2010 Bidoun Library catalogue here [pdf].

Abu Dhabi, Art Abu Dhabi: November 19 – 22, 2009

Dubai, Art Dubai: March 17 – 20, 2010

Beirut, 98 Weeks: April 17 – May 15, 2010

New York, New Museum: August 4 – September 26, 2010

Cairo, Townhouse Gallery: TBA

London, Serpentine Gallery: TBA