EFI Student Research Project · 2023–24

Ask Bill

Forty-seven poems. One translation archive. A platform for commentary, visual response and return.

Led by Rosie Wu with support from Edinburgh Futures Institute, this funded research project produced two linked project outputs: Ask Bill and The Infinite Picturebook.

Award holder: Rosie Wu
Completed: 2024
Collection: 47 selected poems

Ask Bill research poster combining William Dolby’s donated book, the project interface and visual materials — Project research and dissemination poster · 2024

A visual wall assembling all 47 poem covers made by participating students and artists for Ask Bill — 47 poem covers by participating students and artists · 2024

From print archive to situated commentary

Bring on the Wine, brought back into conversation.

The platform digitised 47 selected poems from William Dolby's Bring on the Wine and Other Poems by Li Pai (Carreg Publishers, 2004), alongside English translations, annotations and curated commentary.

Readers could move between historical material, contribute their own comments and encounter image-based AI responses. Participating students and artists created 47 covers—one for each poem—making the archive a shared field of reading and visual interpretation.

Supported by Edinburgh Futures Institute, University of Edinburgh. Project lead and design: Rosie Wu. Platform development, digitisation and visual contributions were produced collaboratively.