Page 150 - Expanding horizons (pictorial poetry) 27-8-18

WHEN ONE’S EYES SPEAK THROUGH A PICTURE
ingenuine form of writing. All this is due to a lack of exposure. Most of the times, teachers face problems while making poetry somehow accessible to the students.
Teachers of large groups find it difficult to consistently and effectively engage students in a dialogue of sharing and discovery when introducing something new. Often “When a picture speaks through its eyes to convey a message in your words or
teachers have no idea from what framework the individual student is starting. In engaging this new or alien form of writing poetry- the class needs a unifying experience, a in a verse, is said to be pictorial poetry", is one of my thoughts on pictorial
common denominator which will invite reaction, discussion and finally discovery. It stands to reason that poetry, which is generally ignored by today's visual and auditory poetry; a beautiful form of seen poetry wherein photography and poetry work
together in a combination of a soul in a body. The body language of a picture
oriented society, could be more easily approached, understood and judged if it were introduced through a natural coupling with visual or auditory mode of expression.
or its characters represent the theme of a verse or its contents. In my opinion
Teachers may introduce poetry via popular framework which facilitates an introduction through a natural coupling with a visual or auditory mode of expression. Or
photography and poetry are two different modes of expressions which narrate
Teachers may often introduce poetry via popular song lyrics. This provides students with a familiar framework which facilitates an introduction to the genre of poetry. their own stories but when both are combined, it becomes an enchanting
Paintings, a familiar mode of expression, allow students an emotional reaction, while poetry (unfamiliar) often does not. Classroom experience indicates that individual form of poetry ie; pictorial poetry. This benevolent concept leaves a great
responses to paintings are readily forthcoming and real. They are fresh, honest and natural. impact on my heart and mind when one eye on a visual and other on a verse
make me feel the soul of my creation in my soul. In spite of these facts, I still
Image generated poetry or poetry matching an image is one of the sub genres of poetry known as pictorial poetry. Poetry and painting are both forms of art; one is written
beleive that pictures have much more effect on my heart and mind as
and the other is visual. The painter Lessi said that painting and poetry are similar in the way that they make “absent things present” both of them animate reality. The art of compared to words; the reason behind I am not aware of. While talking of my
writing pictorial poetry sharpens our observation skills. All that proposes that a visual mode of expression could also be employed effectively when approaching poetry. memory, I feel I can remember the picture more than the words. Luckly if we
Poetry and paintings lend themselves quite naturally to comparative study, for the artist in both cases “sees” the world; observation of details are inherent characteristics combine them, we can remember both parts of expression in a pictorial poetry
or prose poetry forms for a long time.
of the process of poet and artist alike.
When I am with my camera, I try to find beautiful subjects and objects to
For centuries paintings have generated sparks to write in poets or we can say that ever since pictures and poetry existed, they have inspired each-other. Both the art capture them and later mix them with my poetry and sometimes I think to fix
forms, poetry and painting, kinder some kind of emotion, thought or expression. They have an immediate effect of being able to take the beholder or the reader away from them with music to make a video or a musical slide show since readers need a
where one is. There are numerous examples of art forms which are created after being inspired by each-other. For instance, much of David Hockney's work has been change at every step. I can describe it as a marriage of poetry and
photography to make a successful combination or pairing. I Will not be wrong
motivated by poetry. There are many works of art where poetry is written on painting. Poems inspired by art are called 'Ekphrastic poems'. They are viewed description of a
to say if I consider them equal contributors to form a new concept of pictorial
scene or more commonly a piece of art. They reflect on an action of a painting and many poets will expand on the meaning. One prominent example of it is John Keats' poetry framed in Coffee Table Boooks; Which were earlier published for
poem 'Ode on a gracian Urn'; where the poet explains the pictures engraved on an urn. Through those pictures Keats compares art and life. W.H. Auden wrote his poem animal planet, wild life, tourism, culture & history of a country. But we could
“Musee Des Beaux Arts” after his visit to a museum of art. It is a poem that focuses on human suffering tragedy and pain by contrasting the lives of those who suffer and make first Coffee Table Book on pictorial poetry and achieved a world record.
those who do not. The vehicle by which this is achieved is the world of painting. Now, this new way of expressing one's feelings and thoughts has already
achieved heights in social and paper media.
I would like to share here my personal experience of being a writer of a Pictorial poetry. I had a collection of poems in my personal diary penned down by me within a long When I click pictures in my camera, I check my results and find that most
span of time. I thought to get them published in the form of a book. On consultation with Mr. K.C. Sethi, a renowned personality of my city, I decided to get the poems of the pictures are beautiful and rare. I get so many options, ideas and
published along with pictures which his good self made available for the purpose. Then the need to add some more poems cropped up for bringing out an effective pictorial thoughts in my mind. Some of pictures / photography make me feel as if I am
running through the beautiful surroundings captured by me and in place of
poetry book. Then I felt the power of images. Many pictures on the related topic stirred my creative self and helped me write new poems which I felt, would not have been
a subject I am there. I find myself fully involved in my clicks and words /
possible in such a short span in absence of those pictures. Mr. Sethi opines “Pictures are more vocative than words”. I do agree. With the incessant efforts of Mrs. &
verses. Sometimes I enjoy talking to them in the language of silence , smile
Mr. Sethi the pictorial poetry is becoming a popular mode of expressions. The pictures modify the words of poetry and make the poetic world more erotic and interesting. and rejection and they too respond me when I feel happy on my output. Here
Dr. Poonam Wadhwa would like to share that we have been declared world record holders of first
coffee table book on poetry and photography in the world as accepted and
Principal (Ofg)
Associate Professor of English declared by Golden Book of World Records, Asia Book of Records and India
Book of Records.
Maharana Partap P.G. College for Women, Dabwali, Haryana
...K.C. Sethi & Sunita Sethi (Authors)
134 K.C. Sethi, Sunita Sethi Bliss 135