BRISTOL.- For Summer 2019, Arnolfini is coming to life with Fluffy Library, an installation by visiting Greek artist Antigoni Tsagkaropoulou – her giant furry monster, ‘Fluffy’, is taking up residence, spreading itself out across the gallery, and eating all the books.

Imagined as a mysterious snow white beast with no age or gender, Fluffy lives in libraries, eats books, and digests them into knowledge through its strange fuzzy mouths. Taking over the entire space of Arnolfini’s ground floor gallery, visitors are encouraged to crawl onto Fluffy, grab a book, and meet Fluffy’s friends – the Dragon Princess, the Hairy Fairy, the Bearded Horse, and a greater cast of monstrous friends.

Fluffy Library is the creation of Tsagkaropoulou, a twenty-five year old Greek artist making her UK debut. The installation was first developed in Athens with curator Vassilis Zidianakis at ATOPOS CVC and has been there for the last year, open to the public in the day and hosting performances, storytelling, music and DJs into the night as a party for all ages, genders, and identities.

Artist Antigoni Tsagkaropoulou says: “Fluffy Library aims to blur the boundaries between different ages and open up spaces for different identities. How good a grasp can we get of the uncanny and how much tenderness can we give to or gather from it?”

At Arnolfini, Fluffy Library’s opening night features a music-driven fairytale for adults by visiting artist POP Tektonism (Lykourgos Porfyris) focusing on disability, sexuality, and tenderness.

With a range of events for young and old, the installation continues with activities for children and families to create their own fairy tales and go on new adventures with Fluffy. All are welcome, and activities are specifically designed for 5–11 year olds. Members of the Arnolfini team will be on hand to help you explore, play and create, and enjoy Fluffy’s furry landscape.

Arnolfini’s Director, Gary Topp, says: “Following a year of exploration and change we are excited to be bringing our gallery spaces back to life. From collaborating with local artists and community groups, to the recent show for graduating students from our main partner, the University of the West of England – and now Fluffy Library is an exciting, international artwork that will occupy our ground floor gallery for the summer. Come and enjoy the show, a coffee (or beer), a book or an event at Bristol’s Centre for Contemporary Art.”

Arnolfini Head of Programme, Kieran Swann, says: “We can’t wait to tell more of Fluffy’s fairytale, exploring gender, identity, and monsters. Perfect for summer, this international installation and all its events, workshops, and storytelling welcomes families of all sorts, and anyone who has ever felt like a bit of a monster.”