Quartier Libre is a micro-library located inside le Labo. Designed as a research and inspiration tool for artists. It brings together books, catalogues, publications, journals, and technical resources mainly in French, prioritizing circularity and eco-responsibility (second-hand materials, modular and durable furniture). With its Veillées, it highlights each season the selection of an artist-member, sparking conversations and encounters around reading.
Context
In continuity with the idea of jachère at the Labo, the concept of a micro-library naturally emerges as a tool for slowing down. Taking the time to brows through a book, to sit down and immerse oneself in its pages… It is crucial to continue valuing these print media, especially intertwined with digital media-based artistic practices.
This consultation space is also conceived as a tool— a research area for digital media artists. The available books, magazines, and journals (photobooks, cinema resources, contemporary art reviews…) foster creative effervescence, all within a circular approach.
The micro-library functions like a traditional library. Artist-members can borrow the available resources for a period of two months.
Veillées
Quartier Libre’s veillées aim to highlight a selection of works/publications chosen by an artist-member and to open a discussion around this selection.
Each season, an artist-member chooses up to 5 books/journals/magazines. This selection is showcased in the Labo’s physical micro-library. On this occasion, we invite artist-members, friends of the Labo, or simply curious people to attend an evening discussion with the artist who curated the selection. We also invite our community to browse through the selection in person and read the artist’s note written by the member who curated it, during the Labo’s opening hours.
These printed media are acquired (whenever possible) second-hand by the person in charge of the selection. It remains essential to stay rooted in the idea of circularity and eco-responsibility promoted by the Labo. The books are collected by the Labo at the end of the program to enrich its archival collection.
Come browse through the books, discuss, dream, and share an inspiring evening at the Labo.
Artists who have curated a veillée :
- Simon Madore November 13th 2025
- Une saison dans la vie d’Emmanuel (1965), Marie-Claire Blais, editions du Boréal
- Autopsie d’un nain (1986), Jean-Marie Gourio, editions Ramsay.
- Quartier lointain (1998), Jirō Taniguchi, editons Casterman.