Libraries are repositories that house books, a movable and constantly restocked feast of words, and an exhibition space showcasing the culture of printing. But in all this variety, there is one part of a book that receives little attention: the design of the binding.

After collecting old books from the community, artist Leung Mee-ping removes the front and back covers to be left with thousands of naked spines with binding threads, which she trims and compiles into a work of public art. Each book binding has a unique texture, size and colour, which combine to create a distinct visual effect that also echoes the simplicity and clarity of the library's architectural design. Her work allows visitors to appreciate the hidden beauty of book bindings before they enter the library.

Leung Mee-ping's creative practice includes installation, mixed media, public art and community art. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from L'École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, her Master of Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles, and her doctorate from the Department of Cultural and Religious Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She won the "Artist of the Year" (Visual Arts) in Hong Kong Arts Development Awards and the Irish Museum of Modern Art Fellowship in 2014 and nomination for the International Award for Public Art in 2017.