Writers are inspired and challenged by the visual arts, whether it be for its politics, its abstraction, its humour, or through creative and productive friendships with the artists themselves.
But what does “responding” to an artwork really mean? What are a writer’s specific considerations for different commissions and publications? Beyond the essay, what is the potential of fiction, poetry, and other literary forms to respond to a work of visual art? And what is the role of the reader, as the third party in a collaboration between a writer and artist?
A starting point for this kōrero led by Thomasin Sleigh will be the recently published Legacies Reader, which includes Tina Makereti’s short story, ‘Black Milk’. This story was written in response to a photograph by Fiona Pardington and went on to be the Pacific Regional Winner of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize in 2016.
Tina will be joined in conversation by writers Gregory Kan and Gwynneth Porter to discuss their writing and its dynamic and evolving relationship to the visual arts.
Thomasin Sleigh was CIRCUIT's 2022 writer in residence and is the editor of the Legacies Reader, which will be available for sale at the event.
