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Wednesday 6 May 2009

It is Man. Untitled 11 Parts



Installation: It is Man. Untitled 11 Parts

by Anish Kapoor


Menhir mein(long)- stone
standing sentinel no runes to work their magic
only a shape a roughness and a contrast
distance adds to darkness what the eye has missed
no accident its heart is black
stone god god-stone
now steeped in stony silences
mnemonic cloistered cloned and lonely.


A fever spreads upon a sea
a scatter cushioning blue pigmented
wind-blown and drifting step
with care they'll carry you these
stepping stones upon a tranquil sea
to dream's epiphany world-weary
knee-worn prayer-torn stone
hassocks tide-assisted sanctity


Amish Kapoor is currently making headlines with five of his works part of this year's Brighton Festival, including one on The South Downs, a huge curved mirror in which viewers may see themselves and the world around them inverted. I don't have a poem for any of those. (Methinks me hears cheers.)

The image above comes from the ever-popular, The Art Book, published by Phaidon in two formats, a fairly hefty coffee table-type edition and a pocket-sized one. I have a copy of the former, which I find indispensable for browsing - and the occasional moment of inspiration, as here.

With this post I am, alas, going off line for a day or two. See you around ere long, when I will do my level best to catch up with any comments etc.

19 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Dave,

I love the blue colour of the stones and am immediately drawn to your poem. I'd like to be carried on that tranquil sea. Though I'm quite sure none of your thoughts would have come to me.

Enjoy your time off.

Rosaria Williams said...

These installations are often jarring statements, changing our perspectives. I am often challenged and appreciative of the exercise.

Even the poem trips you up.

Unknown said...

I like the poem a lot-- "cloned and lonely" is such a memorable line (among others).

Elizabeth said...

It's interesting how your words drew me back to the installation which at first I wasn't very engaged by.
The interaction between the two enriched both.

I read your piece where you posted the deeply moving play about Gaza recently -
so terribly sad.

So the little haiku festival Tracy, Willow and I are hosting for next Monday may be a little on the light side.
However we would love you to join in if you felt like it....
I liked your flash fiction
sometimes called 'sudden fiction' in the US.

I think the modern world is taken with brevity - our eyes tire on screen......
However the delights of leisurely 18th century fiction like Smollett and Stern have their place too.
All best wishes.

Sarah Laurence said...

I adore Anish Kapoor. Thanks for sharing his latest.

Tommaso Gervasutti said...

Dear Dave, I must have seen that installation, or a very similar one at the Biennale here in Venice...
Sorry if I go back to your previous post...but did you mean "to learn" that Steven's poem that you almost learned it off by heart?

A great and tremendous job... so hard!!!
I learnt some sections of poems and Hamlet's soliloquy and "Shall I compare thee to a Summer's Day" simply reading and rereading, and paraphrasing them, to my students.
But Wallace Stevens! I woouldn't try him.

Madame DeFarge said...

I'm not familiar with Anish Kapoor, but this blue is so gorgeous. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy the days off.

Karen said...

These poems are great takes on the art. Thanks for both.

Enjoy your hiatus.

The lady in Red said...

Dear Dave, thanks for sharing,
Best wishes,
Rosana

Cloudia said...

Blue-stone BULLY!
Aloha, Dave

Poetic Artist said...

Thanks Dave for all the inspiration. Phaidon Books are the best.
Take Care,
Katelen

Mary-Laure said...

I should check out that Phaidon volume. I have their Photography book and it's a great reference.

Conda Douglas said...

Wow, what fabulous art (IMO, of course) and I enjoy how the poem, poems? seem to float across the page mirroring the stone floating across the floor.

Meri said...

Wherever you're going, bring back new food for thought!

A Cuban In London said...

It is definitely a challenging piece and I've heard about Kapoor before. Agree with the others that the blue is beautiful. Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

A Cuban In London said...

Sorry, I forgot to add that the poem was captivating, too. You like playing with structure, a trait I like in writers. The bolder and more adventurous they are the more I like their oeuvre. Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

Dick said...

As with the installation itself, the poem presents what is seen externally and what is sensed internally. A fine pairing.

We await your return, Dave.

Dave King said...

Derrick Thanks a lot for that. Shall beposting later.

lakeviewer I hadn't thought of installations quite that way before, but, yes, I think you are on to something there.

John Thanks John.

Elizabeth Welcome and many thanks for all your comments, whcih are much appreciated. I am struggling a little to catch up after a few days away, but will certainly look up your Haiku Festival which doesn't sound at all light.

Sarah Thanks for the visit.

Tommaso Yes, I did mean to learn it, had been intending to do so for some time. The challenge brought my intention to a head. I was familiar with it, though, so that obviously helped, even though I could not have "recited" moe than a couple of lines here and there.

Madame deFarge Thanks for visiting.

Karen Thanks Karen.

The Lady in Red Thanks a lot.

Cloudia You'll have to explain that one, but thanks for visiting.

Poetic Artist Thanks for that. Will do. You too.

Mary I agree, it is indeed a great volume.

Conda Thanks for that very reassuring observation. I had intended it as one poem, but looking at it again, can see how it could as easily be two.

Meri I shall do my best. Thanks.

A Cuban in London I do agree that the blue is vital to the effect. A special thank you for your second comment. You are right on the ball, I do enjoy playing with structure and think it an important element in any art - not just poetry.

Dick Thanks a lot Dick.

Catherine said...

I am a big fan of Kapoor's work...have you seen his reflective sculpture cloudgate in Chicago..it is so interactive and such fun!! Wish I could see the current work on the South Downs...how long is it there for??