Es Devlin's Library of the Four Winds at Castle Howard

Es Devlin has created Library of the Four Winds, an installation at the Temple of the Four Winds, Castle Howard, York, from 13 June to 27 September. The work transforms Vanbrugh's baroque architecture into a collective reading and speaking space, using books as sculptural material to foster communal authorship. Devlin, born in London in 1971, is known for merging theatre design, public sculpture, and participatory art. The installation features concentric tables for reading, drawing, and conversation, reframing the library as a dynamic, social system. It follows Castle Howard's earlier collaboration with Tony Cragg, marking a shift from object-based to social architecture. The project aligns with the National Year of Reading and positions the estate as a platform for contemporary art within heritage settings.