Ekphrasis: Writing & Art
In collaboration with the Ulster Museum
Through a series of workshops and discussions, students develop new work in response to artworks from the Ulster Museum's Collection. They have exclusive access to collection files and expertise of the curatorial team at the Ulster Museum, as well as our creative writing staff. Their new work is published, and performed at special gallery tours twice a year alongside the artworks themselves.
This annual project builds on the long history of interdisciplinary dialogue between writers and artists in Belfast. The poems sit permanently in the corresponding collection file, contributing to the ongoing story of the artwork.
Current Project - Spring 2021
A Unique Silence: the Rembrandt Etchings
The next in our series of Ekphrasis seminars will focus on a single exhibition. 'A Unique Silence' is the first chance to see six etchings by the famed Dutch artist Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, since they were gifted to the Ulster Museum. Students will be introduced to the works by Anna Liesching (Curator of Art at the Ulster Museum), and an introduction to ekphrasis in poetry by Dr Stephen Sexton (Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's), with support from Dr Padraig Regan (Ciaran Carson Writing in the City Fellow).
Visit the online exhibition here
Changing Views: the Artist as Traveller
Spring 2020
An exhibition explored with support from visiting Fulbright scholar Jenny Browne and SHC Fellow Vahni Capildeo.
Focusing on a single exhibition, the pamphlet features poems by Bebe Ashley, Jess McKinney, Caitlin Phenix, John Reid, Noah Swinney, Grace Tower, and Milena Williamson. Discussion was led by Padraig Regan, and curator of art Anna Liesching, with special contribiutions by visiting Fulbright scholar Jenny Browne and SHC Fellow Vahni Capildeo.
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Privilege of Distance: Collection Highlights
Summer 2019
With poems in response to a range of works from across the collection. Discussion was led by lecturer in Poetry Stephen Sexton, and curator of art Anna Liesching.
Featuring poems by Bebe Ashley, J. Taylor Bell, Bart Breathnach, Supriya Dhaliwal, Erin Gannon, Aine McAllister, Mícheál McCann, Marcella Prince, Andrew Rahal, and Milena Williamson.
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That All I'd Seen Would Be Left Untranslated
Autumn 2018
With poems in response to artworks from the Ulster Museum collection, commissioned by the Courtauld Institute of Art on the occasion of RES/Fest Belfast.
Featuring poems by Padraig Regan, Emma Must, Stephen Sexton, and Caitlin Newby.
Read more Read lessUpcoming events in this series
Ekphrasis 2021: The Rembrandt Etchings
Lecture / Talk / Discussion
Date: 26/01/2021
Time: 2:00PM - 3:30PM
Location: Online