Opening soon... Henri Michaux: The Mescaline Drawings
The Courtauld, London (February 12 - June 2025)
https://courtauld.ac.uk/whats-on/exh-henri-michaux-mescaline-drawings/
In January 1955, as part of an experiment prompted by his publisher, the Franco-Belgian poet and visual artist Henri Michaux tried the psychedelic drug mescaline, to investigate the effect of this non-addictive drug on the creative act.
It transformed Michaux's artistic life - provoking an outpouring of writings and distinctive drawing during the 1950s and 60s as he sought a portal into the inner workings of the mind.
Opening soon in the Drawings Gallery, explore a selection of these later works, rarely seen in the UK, and experience his attempt to push the limits of what the essence of drawing really is.
The programme of displays in the Gilbert and Ildiko Butler Drawings Gallery is generously supported by the International Music and Art Foundation, with additional support from James Bartos.
Henri Michaux (1899-1984), Untitled (Mescaline drawing), 1957, pen and black ink on paper. Promised gift by Linda Karshan in memory of her husband, Howard Karshan. On long-term loan to The Courtauld Gallery, London © ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2024.
Henri Michaux (1889-1984), Untitled, 1956, Graphite, black and coloured inks on paper, 184 x 131 mm. Private collection © ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2025.
(Thanks to The Courtauld for exhibit information & image)
Words become images; images become words:
Concrete & Visual Poetry by Hiromi Suzuki
The work of Hiromi Suzuki reveals the potential of the new visual poetries currently emerging.
While Western concrete and pattern poetry represent a kind of hyper-formalism, Suzuki reaches a higher level of expression via skillful use of collage, distortion and many other available tools. Technology has created many new possibilities for concrete poetry.
Suzuki’s compositions tend to be language-centered. They also offer the reader fascinating image-text juxtapositions that produce asemics as well. In Suzuki’s vispo, words become images; images become words. At times he uses open field composition, which tend to reduce disruption and fragmentation.
I am very pleased to present recent work by Hiromi Suzuki at The New Concrete Poetry. I hope we will see more of his work here. Deepest thanks to him for granting permission to use his images.
De Villo Sloan
February 5, 2025
