BHUBANESWAR: Bhubaneswar Poetry Club (BPC) organised a first-of-its-kind event on poetry and painting titled ‘Ekphrasis’ here recently Saturday. Ekphrasis, which is a Greek word for a work of art, is a humble attempt by BPC to crochet two art forms and create rich yarns thereof.
A member of BPC Bijaya Biswal said, “Ekphrasis basically means ‘Poetry on Paintings’. Ekphrasis is not a new tool for the poets. From the time of Horace, when he used Pictura Poesis (like a picture, poetry or poetry is like a painting) to draw a parallel between the two art forms and Homer who imagined a work of art – Achilles’s shield in this case, and put it in words, to later in time, when Keats, Shelley, Byron, Browning and many more contemporary poets who used the tool to adorn their poems, Ekphrasis has been constantly used by poets to produce celebrated pieces.”
Another member Sanchita Dwivedi said, “We believe art cannot exist in isolation. It’s a centripetal force layered with antiquity and dreams, peaceful silences and disturbing disquiets, faraway fables and humdrum existences.”
In the event, two artists Dibyush Jena and Ria Biswal presented an art exhibition. Later, the poets from the city were asked to pick any painting and describe it through their poems. Dibyush is a Bhubaneswar based visual artist who is engaged in mural installation and Riya is a city-based artist who mostly uses ink and papers for her works. She has been experimenting with different medium and techniques as well.
The participants wrote and performed some wonderful pieces of poetry, presenting the diversified interpretations reflected by words and colors. It can be described as Art inspired art, meandering through the intricacies of creativity and passion. “It was a joy to see the array of ideas that were brought about,” said one of the participants.
On the occasion, musician Bunny Mohanty presented a skilful performance. The event was organised on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of BPC. The organisers thanked young poets of the city for their love and support.
