Public Knowledge

'Lindgren & Langlois: The Archive Paradox', a dramatised exchange of letters between two influential film archivists on opposing sides of the debate between preservation and circulation, exists as both annotated script and live performance. A narrative is constucted from a the writing, correspondence and commentators of Ernest Lindgren, the BFI National Film Archive's first curator - careful, scientific and restrained by public responsibilities and budgets - and Henri Langlois, the flamboyant and passionate co-founder of the Cinémathèque Française who collected, saved, and screened as widely as possible. Download a PDF of the limited edition script and references booklet here.

South London Gallery, London, 6 July 2011
'Performance as Publishing'
Performance of 'Lindgren & Langlois: The Archive Paradox' by Ed Franklin and Dan Smith.

Cubitt Gallery, London, 9-19 March 2011
'Public Knowledge': Three events commissioned by Cubitt which explored relationships between the social purpose and cultural significance of the library and archive, as public spaces for the collection, preservation and distribution of knowledge. 'Lindgren & Langlois: The Archive Paradox' was first performed on 9 March. The other two events were 'Film Salon: Libraries' and a panel discussion about the past, present and future of the library with Anne Gallacher (Chair), Professor Richard Gameson, Chris Meade and Maggie Roche.

Film Salon: Libraries, an informal evening of film clips and YouTube excerpts (hosted by Ruth Beale in book costume) which explored the varying representation of libraries in film from receptacle of knowledge to emancipatory catalyst. Included a screening of Alain Resnais' Toute la Mémoire du Monde (All the Memory of the World), 1956. Photo: Babak Ghazi

Booklet designed by Helios Capdevila