creative writing school
Module 9: Text & Visual Arts
Welcome to our online creative writing course exploring the dynamic relationship between text and drawing! From ancient manuscripts to contemporary digital art, the fusion of language and image has captivated artists and writers across cultures and centuries. In this course, we'll delve into the fascinating interplay between text and drawing, examining how they inform and enrich each other in various artistic practices.
We'll begin by exploring the theoretical insights behind this relationship, drawing on examples from art history to illuminate the ways in which text and drawing intersect and interact. From illuminated manuscripts to contemporary experiments, we'll uncover the diverse ways in which artists have harnessed the expressive potential of these mediums.
Throughout our journey, we'll focus on two distinct forms of poetic expression: visual poetry and concrete poetry. Visual poetry emphasizes the visual arrangement of text, while concrete poetry explores the materiality of language. Through a series of creative writing exercises, we'll engage with these poetic forms, exploring how they challenge our perceptions and invite new ways of seeing and understanding.
So whether you're a seasoned writer, a visual artist, or simply curious to explore new creative avenues, join us as we embark on this journey into the captivating world of text and drawing in poetry!
We'll begin by exploring the theoretical insights behind this relationship, drawing on examples from art history to illuminate the ways in which text and drawing intersect and interact. From illuminated manuscripts to contemporary experiments, we'll uncover the diverse ways in which artists have harnessed the expressive potential of these mediums.
Throughout our journey, we'll focus on two distinct forms of poetic expression: visual poetry and concrete poetry. Visual poetry emphasizes the visual arrangement of text, while concrete poetry explores the materiality of language. Through a series of creative writing exercises, we'll engage with these poetic forms, exploring how they challenge our perceptions and invite new ways of seeing and understanding.
So whether you're a seasoned writer, a visual artist, or simply curious to explore new creative avenues, join us as we embark on this journey into the captivating world of text and drawing in poetry!
theory
The relationship between text and drawing has been intertwined throughout art history, with each medium influencing and complementing the other in various ways. Here are some key aspects of their relationship:
1. Illustration of text:
One of the most straightforward relationships between text and drawing is the use of drawings to illustrate written text. Throughout history, artists have created illustrations to accompany written manuscripts, books, and other textual materials. These illustrations serve to enhance the text, providing visual representations of the content and helping to convey ideas more effectively.
2. Calligraphy and illuminated manuscripts:
In illuminated manuscripts, text and drawing are intricately intertwined. Calligraphers meticulously hand-wrote texts, while illuminators adorned the pages with decorative borders, intricate initials, and elaborate illustrations. These illustrations often depicted scenes from the text or symbolic imagery related to the content, enriching the reading experience and adding layers of meaning.
3. Visual poetry and concrete poetry:
In the realm of poetry, some artists have explored the integration of text and drawing to create visual poetry or concrete poetry. These works use typography, layout, and visual elements to convey meaning, blurring the lines between text and image. Artists experiment with the placement of words, the shape of letters, and the incorporation of graphic elements to create visually striking compositions that engage the viewer on multiple levels.
4. Artist books and Text-based art:
In contemporary art, many artists create books or artworks that incorporate both text and drawing as integral components. These artist books often feature handwritten or printed text alongside drawings, paintings, or other visual elements. Artists use these mediums to explore themes related to language, communication, storytelling, and personal expression, blurring the boundaries between literature and visual art.
5. Conceptual art:
In the realm of conceptual art, text and drawing are often used in conjunction to convey ideas or concepts. Artists may create drawings accompanied by textual explanations or use text as the primary medium to convey their artistic message. This approach allows artists to explore the relationship between language and visual imagery, challenging viewers to reconsider how they interpret and interact with art.
Overall, the relationship between text and drawing in art history is multifaceted and dynamic, with artists continually exploring new ways to integrate these two mediums to create meaning and engage viewers in thought-provoking experiences.
1. Illustration of text:
One of the most straightforward relationships between text and drawing is the use of drawings to illustrate written text. Throughout history, artists have created illustrations to accompany written manuscripts, books, and other textual materials. These illustrations serve to enhance the text, providing visual representations of the content and helping to convey ideas more effectively.
2. Calligraphy and illuminated manuscripts:
In illuminated manuscripts, text and drawing are intricately intertwined. Calligraphers meticulously hand-wrote texts, while illuminators adorned the pages with decorative borders, intricate initials, and elaborate illustrations. These illustrations often depicted scenes from the text or symbolic imagery related to the content, enriching the reading experience and adding layers of meaning.
3. Visual poetry and concrete poetry:
In the realm of poetry, some artists have explored the integration of text and drawing to create visual poetry or concrete poetry. These works use typography, layout, and visual elements to convey meaning, blurring the lines between text and image. Artists experiment with the placement of words, the shape of letters, and the incorporation of graphic elements to create visually striking compositions that engage the viewer on multiple levels.
4. Artist books and Text-based art:
In contemporary art, many artists create books or artworks that incorporate both text and drawing as integral components. These artist books often feature handwritten or printed text alongside drawings, paintings, or other visual elements. Artists use these mediums to explore themes related to language, communication, storytelling, and personal expression, blurring the boundaries between literature and visual art.
5. Conceptual art:
In the realm of conceptual art, text and drawing are often used in conjunction to convey ideas or concepts. Artists may create drawings accompanied by textual explanations or use text as the primary medium to convey their artistic message. This approach allows artists to explore the relationship between language and visual imagery, challenging viewers to reconsider how they interpret and interact with art.
Overall, the relationship between text and drawing in art history is multifaceted and dynamic, with artists continually exploring new ways to integrate these two mediums to create meaning and engage viewers in thought-provoking experiences.
inspirations
Visual poetry and concrete poetry are closely related forms of artistic expression that utilize visual elements to enhance the meaning and impact of the text. While they share similarities, there are also distinctions between the two:
1. Visual Poetry:
2. Concrete Poetry:
In summary, while both visual poetry and concrete poetry utilize visual elements in conjunction with text, visual poetry encompasses a broader spectrum of artistic approaches, while concrete poetry specifically focuses on the visual arrangement of text to create meaningful patterns and shapes.
Here are some contemporary examples of visual poetry and concrete poetry:
1. Jen Bervin (United States) - Known for her interdisciplinary approach to poetry, Bervin's work often incorporates visual elements and experiments with form. Check out her piece "Nets" for an example of her innovative approach.
2. Christian Bök (Canada) - Bök's "Crystallography" is a stunning example of visual poetry, where he explores the crystalline structure of language through intricate visual arrangements of text.
3. Tom Phillips (United Kingdom) - Phillips' "A Humument" is a celebrated example of visual and concrete poetry. It involves altering and reworking the pages of a Victorian novel to create new meanings through text and image.
4. Augusto de Campos (Brazil) - A key figure in the Concrete Poetry movement, de Campos' work pushes the boundaries of language and visual art. His poem "Poetamenos" exemplifies his innovative use of typography and spatial arrangement.
5. Eugen Gomringer (Switzerland) - Considered one of the pioneers of Concrete Poetry, Gomringer's "Silencio" is a minimalist yet impactful example of how poetry can be expressed through visual elements such as spacing and layout.
6. Ian Hamilton Finlay (Scotland) - Finlay's work often blurs the lines between poetry, sculpture, and landscape design. His piece "Little Sparta" combines text and imagery in a poetic exploration of nature and culture.
7. Mary Ellen Solt (United States) - Solt's "Forsythia" is a renowned example of concrete poetry, where she uses typographic arrangements to evoke the visual appearance of the flower while exploring themes of perception and representation.
These artists demonstrate the diverse ways in which visual and concrete poetry continue to evolve and thrive in contemporary artistic practice.
1. Visual Poetry:
- Visual poetry encompasses a broad range of poetic works that integrate visual elements such as typography, layout, color, and imagery to convey meaning.
- The visual aspects of visual poetry are often integral to the interpretation of the poem, enhancing or even altering the meaning of the text.
- Visual poetry can take various forms, including collages, typographic designs, calligrams (where the arrangement of text creates a visual image), and multimedia works that incorporate text and digital imagery.
- The emphasis in visual poetry is on the overall visual impact and aesthetic experience of the poem, with the text serving as one element among many.
2. Concrete Poetry:
- Concrete poetry is a specific subset of visual poetry characterized by the arrangement of words and letters on the page to create visual patterns or shapes that reflect the poem's subject matter or themes.
- In concrete poetry, the physical layout of the text is often as important as the semantic content, with the visual arrangement of letters and words contributing to the meaning of the poem.
- Concrete poetry often employs typographical experiments, such as spatial manipulation, repetition, fragmentation, and the use of unconventional fonts or sizes, to create visual effects.
- The term "concrete" in concrete poetry refers to the emphasis on the materiality of language, with the physical form of the poem serving as an integral part of its expression.
In summary, while both visual poetry and concrete poetry utilize visual elements in conjunction with text, visual poetry encompasses a broader spectrum of artistic approaches, while concrete poetry specifically focuses on the visual arrangement of text to create meaningful patterns and shapes.
Here are some contemporary examples of visual poetry and concrete poetry:
1. Jen Bervin (United States) - Known for her interdisciplinary approach to poetry, Bervin's work often incorporates visual elements and experiments with form. Check out her piece "Nets" for an example of her innovative approach.
2. Christian Bök (Canada) - Bök's "Crystallography" is a stunning example of visual poetry, where he explores the crystalline structure of language through intricate visual arrangements of text.
3. Tom Phillips (United Kingdom) - Phillips' "A Humument" is a celebrated example of visual and concrete poetry. It involves altering and reworking the pages of a Victorian novel to create new meanings through text and image.
4. Augusto de Campos (Brazil) - A key figure in the Concrete Poetry movement, de Campos' work pushes the boundaries of language and visual art. His poem "Poetamenos" exemplifies his innovative use of typography and spatial arrangement.
5. Eugen Gomringer (Switzerland) - Considered one of the pioneers of Concrete Poetry, Gomringer's "Silencio" is a minimalist yet impactful example of how poetry can be expressed through visual elements such as spacing and layout.
6. Ian Hamilton Finlay (Scotland) - Finlay's work often blurs the lines between poetry, sculpture, and landscape design. His piece "Little Sparta" combines text and imagery in a poetic exploration of nature and culture.
7. Mary Ellen Solt (United States) - Solt's "Forsythia" is a renowned example of concrete poetry, where she uses typographic arrangements to evoke the visual appearance of the flower while exploring themes of perception and representation.
These artists demonstrate the diverse ways in which visual and concrete poetry continue to evolve and thrive in contemporary artistic practice.
creative exercises
Welcome to our creative writing exercises focusing on Concrete Poetry! Concrete poetry, also known as visual or shape poetry, is a unique form of expression that emphasizes the visual arrangement of text on the page to create meaning. In this series of exercises, we'll explore the dynamic relationship between text and visual elements, pushing the boundaries of traditional poetry by incorporating drawing, found objects, and digital tools into our compositions.
Objective: Emphasis on visual layout and arrangement of text to create meaning.
Prompt: Choose a short poem or a few lines of prose that resonate with you. Experiment with rearranging the words and letters to create a visually striking concrete poem. Focus on how the spatial arrangement of the text can enhance or alter the meaning of the original piece. Aim to create a visual representation of the poem's themes or emotions through typographical transformations.
Timeframe: 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Objective: Utilization of unconventional materials and objects to construct concrete poems.
Prompt: Take a walk outside and collect various materials or objects that capture your attention, such as leaves, stones, bottle caps, or scraps of paper. Arrange these found objects into a visual composition that represents a poem or evokes a specific mood or concept. Experiment with layering, juxtaposition, and spatial arrangement to create a tactile and visually engaging concrete poem using the materials you've gathered.
Timeframe: 1 day to 1 week.
Objective: Incorporation of digital tools and multimedia elements to create dynamic concrete poetry.
Prompt: Explore digital platforms or multimedia software that allow for interactive and dynamic compositions, such as Adobe Spark, Canva, or Twine. Create a digital concrete poem that combines text, images, animation, sound, or video to immerse the reader/viewer in an interactive poetic experience. Experiment with hyperlinks, scrolling effects, audiovisual overlays, or interactive elements that encourage audience engagement and exploration of the poem's themes.
Timeframe: 2 weeks to 1 month.
Through these exercises, we'll challenge ourselves to think creatively about the relationship between text and drawing, exploring how visual elements can enhance and enrich our written expressions. So let's dive in and unleash our creativity as we embark on this journey into the world of Concrete Poetry!
- Exercise 1: Typographical transformations (Short-term)
Objective: Emphasis on visual layout and arrangement of text to create meaning.
Prompt: Choose a short poem or a few lines of prose that resonate with you. Experiment with rearranging the words and letters to create a visually striking concrete poem. Focus on how the spatial arrangement of the text can enhance or alter the meaning of the original piece. Aim to create a visual representation of the poem's themes or emotions through typographical transformations.
Timeframe: 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Exercise 2: Found object poetry (Medium-term)
Objective: Utilization of unconventional materials and objects to construct concrete poems.
Prompt: Take a walk outside and collect various materials or objects that capture your attention, such as leaves, stones, bottle caps, or scraps of paper. Arrange these found objects into a visual composition that represents a poem or evokes a specific mood or concept. Experiment with layering, juxtaposition, and spatial arrangement to create a tactile and visually engaging concrete poem using the materials you've gathered.
Timeframe: 1 day to 1 week.
- Exercise 3: Interactive digital poems (Long-term)
Objective: Incorporation of digital tools and multimedia elements to create dynamic concrete poetry.
Prompt: Explore digital platforms or multimedia software that allow for interactive and dynamic compositions, such as Adobe Spark, Canva, or Twine. Create a digital concrete poem that combines text, images, animation, sound, or video to immerse the reader/viewer in an interactive poetic experience. Experiment with hyperlinks, scrolling effects, audiovisual overlays, or interactive elements that encourage audience engagement and exploration of the poem's themes.
Timeframe: 2 weeks to 1 month.
Through these exercises, we'll challenge ourselves to think creatively about the relationship between text and drawing, exploring how visual elements can enhance and enrich our written expressions. So let's dive in and unleash our creativity as we embark on this journey into the world of Concrete Poetry!
stay motivated!
As we come to the end of our creative journey exploring the rich interplay between text and drawing, I encourage you to keep the creative fire burning within you. Embrace the spirit of exploration, playfulness, and curiosity as you continue to write and create. Allow yourself to venture into uncharted territories, experiment with new techniques, and push the boundaries of your creativity. Remember that there are no limits to what you can achieve when you let your imagination soar. So keep exploring, keep playing, and above all, keep writing. The world is waiting to be inspired by your unique voice and vision. Keep shining bright!
Photo: Artist books / School of Disobedience