Prof. Raphael Vella from the Department of Arts, Communities and Adult Education at the Faculty of Education, University of Malta was recently invited to present recent research in an interdisciplinary conference held between 2-4 October, 2024 at the University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès and the Bibliothèque d’étude et du patrimoine, also in Toulouse.

Based on years of research and organised by Prof. Benoit Tane and Prof. Marine Le Bail, the Conference, entitled "Biblioclasmes: Créations / destructions" sought contributions from specialists from various fields (literature, visual arts, library science, theatrical performance) and focused on the destruction of books in creative, rather than ideological or political, contexts.

This paradox of creative destructionhas accompanied the ongoing evolution of book forms, as well as literature and the visual arts, up to the present day. Delivered by specialists from various institutions such as the Sorbonne in Paris, Humboldt University in Berlin, the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland, the University of Malta and several other universities in France, presentations and discussions revolved around poetic, literary, artistic, pedagogical and other creative interactions with books.

Given that Prof.Vella has a long-standing connection to the topic both as a researcher and as an artistic practitioner, he was invited to talk about his research, which focused on an interpretation of book alterations informed by French philosopher Michel Serres' notion of the 'parasite'.

Following Prof. Vella's talk, the conference was brought to a close by the French writer and historian Lucien X. Polastron.