The Ghent University library with its famous Boekentoren or Book Tower, which was designed by Henry van de Velde in the 1930s, re-opened recently after a long restoration process under the supervision of Robbrecht en Daem architecten. Although celebrating this festive moment, this exhibition does not so much focus on the building itself but rather on its rich imagery. For over the years, leading artists and photographers such as Frans Masereel, Lucien Hervé, Candida Höfer and François Schuiten have pictured the library tower whereas artists such as Jan De Cock, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, and Marie-Jo Lafontaine realized installations or dance performances in the building that were documented with the help of photographs and films.

By juxtaposing multiple images of the same building, the exhibition Book Tower Images deals with various models of architectural representation: from the typical modernist architectural photographs by Emile Sergysels from the 1940s to the recent explorations by Dirk Braeckman, Geert Goiris, Aglaia Konrad, and Walter Vorjohann. In addition, the exhibition combines architectural photography with a myriad of other artistic and photographic practices such as documentary photography, street photography, fashion shoots, photojournalism, amateur photography, painting, video, et cetera – with, of course, the Book Tower as leitmotiv. The exhibition was curated by Steven Jacobs and Charlotte Dossche.

With works by Edgar Barbaix, Stijn Bollaert, Dirk Braeckman, Kristien Daem, Jan De Cock, Jan De Maesschalck, Eric De Mildt, Walter De Mulder, Carl De Keyzer, Filip Dujardin, Geert Goiris, Lucien Hervé, Candida Höfer, Jan Kempenaers, Aglaia Konrad, Marie-Jo Lafontaine, Piet Lippens, Agnès Maes, R. Masson, Pichonnier frères, Paul Robbrecht, François Schuiten, Emile Sergysels, and Walter Vorjohann among others.

On the occasion of this exhibition, A&S/books publishes Book Tower Images. Edited by Steven Jacobs & Charlotte Dossche.

Additionally a special film program will be screened on Tuesday 25 April and May 2 at 8:30 p.m. at KASK Cinema, Ghent in collaboration with Film Plateau. With works by Dirk Braeckman, Robbrecht De Smet, Lieve Dhondt, Wolfgang Kolb & Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Jan Peeters, Jolien Naeyaert & Ezra Veldhuis.