Marta Minujin created the Tower of Babel out of books at Plaza San Martin to celebrate Buenos Aires as the “World Capital of Books”. 30,000 books were donated to this art project by residents of the city and visitors are allowed to climb the spiral of books and get a view from the inside. The books are in various languages and will be donated to a multi-cultural library when the tower is torn down after June 27. Photographer Beatrice Murch brings a bit of the madness to our readers.
Torre de Babel at Plaza San Martin
Books, protected in plastic bags and zip-tied together behind chicken-wire, are layered on top of each other in a spiral to the 'heavens'.
Someone donated the book 'Tour de Babel' to the collection.
Visitors start climbing the incline to enter the tower.
Books at all angles make for an interesting point of view.
A visitor examines the massive quantity of books up close.
The tour guide gives the 'who, what, where' to the visitors.
A close up of the books over the tipa trees of Plaza San Martin.
Visitors climb the stairs to reach the upper levels of the tower.
San Martin is framed by two levels of the spiral of books and the pigeon hitches a ride.
Marta Minujin serendipitously walked across the plaza on her way to Microcentro on Wednesday morning.
The tower was open until 9 pm each night and people showed up for the evening tour.
I love this woman.
Beatrice did a great job of showing this novel structure from many perspectives!
Fascinating story, great idea. MAM
Beatrice, they are gorgeous! besos