Issue 16 / Summer 2009
Content:
- Claire Bishop and Boris Groys on Futurism
- Adrien Sina & Sarah Wilson on Valentine de Saint-Point
- Kurt W Forster on Armin Linke
- Robert MacFarlane on Richard Long
- Carl Andre on Richard Long
- Christoph Grunenberg interviews Ellsworth Kelly
- David Batchelor on monochromes
- François Morellet talks about his work
- Anthony d'Offay and others on ARTIST ROOMS
- Caoimhín Mac Giolla Léith on Eva Rothschild
- Robert Storr on Per Kirkeby
- Geoff Dyer on JMW Turner
- Vincent Katz on poets and visual artists
- Polish Art Conversation
- Microtate
- Plus: Travis Elborough in the Tate Archive
- Rita McBride, Corey McCorkle & Stefan Brüggemann at Lismore Castle Arts
- BOOKS ETC.
- Poem of the Month
Christopher Richard Wynne Nevinson
A Star Shell exhibited 1916
© Tate
Oil on canvas
50.8cm x 40.6cm
A Star Shell
In a moment the world is shattered,
sub-divided into fractions of itself.
We freeze in its mathematics.
The trench floods with rivers of light;
mud quickens into life and the barricades
become the linked arms of children.
All of the universe turns on this point,
a precursor of the final reckoning,
the second before the sun implodes;
a flash of beautiful clarity when God
presents himself, shining on the wasteland:
a tender eye over his razed creation.
It is not the moment after I remember
but the fabric of our tunics, the accent
of light on our helmets, the spots of rust
on our belt brass and the olive green of the
subaltern’s eyes; the star drifts peaceably
to the earth and in an instant – gunfire.
Each month, TATE ETC. publishes new poetry by leading poets such as John Burnside, Moniza Alvi, Adam Thorpe, Alice Oswald
and David Harsent who respond to works from the Tate Collection. Subscribe to the Poem of the Month RSS feed.
This August, Christopher James presents his poem, A Star Shell, based on Christopher Richard Wynne Nevinson's work of the same name. This is currently on display in Tate Modern on Level
5 'States of Flux,' in Room 2. For the Tate Collection online, visit www.tate.org.uk/collection.
The Poetry Society is curating this year's selection in the organisation's centenary year. Founded in 1909, the Society is now one of Britain’s most high-profile arts organisations, helping poets and poetry thrive in Britain and beyond. Membership is open to all, though members include many of the UK’s most eminent poets. It publishes the highly-respected journal Poetry Review; and also works to deliver a programme of poetry in education, supporting and developing creativity among young people and communities. Visit http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk for further information.