Word and Image event at Enitharmon – 16th May

This event explored the relationship between Word and Image, through the work of Enitharmon’s Sharon Morris and David Austen. They looked at the variety of intermedial examples that come face-to-face with the issues surrounding reading texts and images. 

David Austen is an artist whose work spans a wide variety of media and installations, including recently illustrating Enitharmon’s publication of Jeremy Reed’s translation of Jean Cocteau’s Tempest of Stars. Sharon Morris is the Professor of Fine Art at the Slade School of Fine Art, UCL, and is a visual artist, poet, and theorist. The evening will coincide with Enitharmon’s exhibition of Sharon Morris’s work and it will be a rare opportunity to hear from the artist herself about the pieces on display.

We had tremendous fun and gained invaluable experience curating the ‘wordimage // imageword : art and poetry in conversation’ event in collaboration with Enitharmon. We are especially grateful for Enitharmon’s expert help in selecting and approaching speakers from their extensive and distinguished range of artists and writers. We were incredibly fortunate to have been joined by David Austen and Sharon Morris, both prolific and eminent writers and visual artists.

We would like to deeply thank David and Sharon for sharing their exciting work with us, and for their fascinating and thought-provoking discussion, both in the weeks preceding and during the event itself. As research students, it was truly invaluable for us to talk about art and poetry with practising artists. The night was a great success, with lively questions, informal debate, poetry readings, and a packed audience, set within an exhibition of Sharon’s most recent artist’s book. It was a testament to the enthusiasm and inspiring discussions that post-talk conversations and wine extended far into the evening, with many contacts being exchanged for future creative ideas. Enitharmon was the most wonderful setting for such an event, and we cannot thank Kathryn, Isabel, and Stephen enough for all their work, support and energy. They have kindly added some of their own words about the night.

“At a very well orchestrated public event, Abi Walker and and Connie Bloomfield curated a fascinating talk between artists David Austen and Sharon Morris on the topic of ‘Word and Image’. Although both artists often work with the concepts surrounding the way in which word and image relate in artistic terms, their practises are highly contrasting. Abi and Connie made use of these juxtapositions, and steered the conversation in such a way that they became a good foil for each other. With a full house and a complex, wide ranging topic, Connie and Abi successfully provided a tightly woven stream of detail, in the engaging style of a free flowing conversation – which was very well received by the artists and audience alike”