Art + Literature Book Club: Philip K. Dick, 'Ubik'

This event is free. Spaces are limited, booking is essential.

Philip K. Dick’s Ubik provides a framework in which to discuss themes present in Longest Way Round, Shortest Way Home, two exhibitions by Yuri Pattison and Liliane Puthod at The Pumphouse, Dublin Port. Ubik presents a fictional world where services are fully automated, architecture has been commodified, and life, after death, can be suspended and extended. A journey through space leads to an untimely death, which becomes a strange catalyst to the disruption of the flow of time.

Yuri Pattison’s dream sequence and Liliane Puthod’s Beep Beep refer to the relationship between time and labour, journeys, and new beginnings. Through artistic storytelling, they offer points of connection between geographic, economic and technical networks. Both exhibitions describe transitory relationships through, and outside of the flow of time.

The event will start with a brief tour of each exhibition, followed by a group discussion, led by Sadbh O’Brien (TBG+S). The discussion will focus on the various shared concepts and thematic approaches between Philip K. Dick's Ubik and each of artists' exhibitions. In advance of the event, participants will be sent information including an extract from the book, although reading the book in full is encouraged.

A limited number of copies are available for the unwaged. Please contact TBG+S Learning + Public Engagement Curator Órla Goodwin to request a copy.

Image description: A photo of a hand holding up a book with a colourful cover. In the middle of the cover are the words 'Philip K. Dick, Ubik'. The book is held up in front of the corrugated metal exterior of a shipping container, which is painted blue. White numbers of serial code descend vertically on the left hand side.