Peter Finch Visual Poetry
  
 

A small sample from the range of Peter Finch's visual compositions. These works always begin with a written form. Their origin is in language. They come from the tradition of concrete poetry although by now are at a considerable remove. Many have been exhibited, a range published by Bob Cobbing's Writers Forum  and a large number included in Bill Griffith's microfiche series. Finch's book  Dauber   (Writers Forum) collects further examples of the poet's visual work.     

Visual poetry uses collage, text-manipulation, overlay, blur, daub, fade, rotate and ether driven creation in equal measure. It can be conceptual, concrete, mimetic, calligraphic, minimal, emotional, magnificent and mad. It is a tradition avoided by most of academia. It does not fit the usual slots. Enjoy it while you can.

These are all thumbnails.  Click on an image to view in larger size.   Scroll down to view more.

Examples of Peter Finch's visual poetry (or the use of the visual as a component of a longer poem) occur in almost all of his published volumes.


           prynne2.jpg (34855 bytes) The Mornings Of J H Prynne #1
           prynne3.jpg (44142 bytes) The Mornings of J H Prynne #2
           prynne4.jpg (47500 bytes) The Mornings of J H Prynne #3
           yellsml2.gif (27302 bytes)

from Antarktika
originally published as Writers Forum 'fives' number three (1973).
The text derives from a cassette tape composition made by Finch in 1972

           500cobs1.jpg (16581 bytes) 500 Cobbings #1
from 500 Cobbings published in Antibodies, Stride (1997)
           500cobs2.jpg (33030 bytes) 500 Cobbings #2
from 500 Cobbings published in Antibodies, Stride (1997)
           advS.jpg (135483 bytes) The Adventures of S
an early 70s poster composition published by Second Aeon.
           ddimynd.jpg (40731 bytes) Dw'i ddim yn deall
           sunpoem.jpg (11895 bytes) Sun Poem
from Selected Poems, Poetry Wales Press (1987)
           whitesung.jpg (32900 bytes) Whitesung
title poem from the Aquila pamphlet (1972)
           blats1.jpg (22854 bytes) Moonsplats #1
non-poems made in 1970 and included in the collection Blats, second aeon publications, 1972
           blats2.jpg (24170 bytes) Moonsplats #2
non-poems made in 1970 and included in the collection Blats, second aeon publications (1972)
           blats3.jpg (17655 bytes) Moonsplats #3
non-poems made in 1970 and included in the collection Blats, second aeon publications (1972)
           blats7.jpg (17293 bytes) Blats (1999)
           theway.jpg (31935 bytes) The Way
from The Cheng Man Ch'ing Variations (1990) included in Antibodies, Stride (1997) and originally published by Writers Forum.
           haiku1.jpg (36223 bytes) Haiku 1
           haiku2.jpg (50126 bytes) Haiku 2
           haiku3.jpg (21397 bytes) Haiku 3
           haiku4.jpg (34801 bytes) Haiku 4
           crit2sml.gif (38592 bytes) On Criticism #1
from On Criticism, Writers Forum (1984)
           Red.gif (162011 bytes) Walking for Eric Mottram
included in Useful, Seren (1997)
           haf2.gif (70448 bytes)   dydi'r haf  ex-Dafydd ap Gwilym
           supersml.gif (57947 bytes) Visual Text Makes It As SuperHero  
           crit1sml.gif (42197 bytes) On Criticism #2
from On Criticism, Writers Forum (1984)
           defeatA.gif (9056 bytes) The Defeated Texts #
from Selected Poems, Poetry Wales Press (1987)
           inchsq2.jpg (28603 bytes) One Inch Square Text
included in Selected Poems, Poetry Wales Press (1987)
           softdada.gif (11815 bytes) Softdada
included in Poems For Ghosts, Seren, (1991)
           instmag3.gif (51845 bytes) Instantaneous Magnetism
published in Some Music And A Little War Rivelin Grapheme Press, (1984)
           mooon.jpg (24060 bytes) m mo o oo on n taken from Typewriter #4 (1973).
Originally set in 14pt futura book at the Toothpaste Press in Iowa City, Iowa by Robert Calwell
           oooo.gif (5103 bytes) ooooooo
non-poems made in 1970 and included in the collection Blats, second aeon publications, 1972
           oooo.gif (5103 bytes) The Boom Poster
originally issued as a supplement to issue 8&9 of second aeon magazine in 1969

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