Spot the Bookworm

B and I went to NT Blickling Hall today to view their art installation called ‘The Word Defiant’.  This consisted of seven installations, each telling a story of how books are under threat.
The installation is hoping to raise £500,000 to restore the Blickling’s Long Gallery Library along with its huge collection of books.
 
The installations told the story of:
‘The Word Banned’ (how Chinese censors banned Winnie-the Pooh after unflattering comparisons were made between the A A Milne’s bear and Chinese Premier Xi-Jinping.)
 
‘The Word Redacted’ (about the book ‘Operation Dark Heart, the memoirs of US Army Lt. Colonel Anthony Shaffer of his 5-month tour in Afganistan.  The first print run was completely destroyed by The US Dept of Defense.  The Pentagon allowed a 2nd print run subject to 433 redactions.  Shaffer sued the Pentagon for the right to print an un-redacted copy, with the Pentagon agreeing to 235 redactions).
 
‘The Word Burned’ (ISIS militants burned down the University Library in Mosul, Iraq in 2014, destroying thousands of books and manuscripts dating back to the Ottoman era. After liberation in 2017 former students and academics saved around 2000 volumes from the ashes and they are now restoring and rebuilding the library).
 
‘The Word Drowned’ (High tides occur in autumn and spring in the North Adriatic and cause flooding across Venice. So, the Libreria Acqua bookshop stores their volumes in basins, bathtubs and even a full-size gondola so that when the tide comes in the books are safe).
 
‘The Word Superseded’ (this looks at the fate of paper maps and charts now that online and satellite GPS-based services are replacing them.
 
‘The Word Neglected’ (this represents books which are forgotten for many reasons, such as changing tastes and publishers going out of business).
 
‘The Word Defiant’ (This sound and visual display of falling books in Blickling’s Library represent the defiance of books in this significant collection against the threats listed above as well as those from damp and deathwatch beetles).
 
My extra is of one of the many ‘bookworms’ that were tucked away in many of Blickling’s rooms and which children and adults alike were having fun looking for on the tour around the house.
 
A thought-provoking and visually excellent art installation, highly recommended!