Ink: What is the Emotional Record of Humanity?

The material is designed to encourage and inspire the audience to participate by taking the time to write down thoughts, observations or feelings in an attempt to collect an emotional record of humanity triggered by the art work, in an environment which nurtures self-expression. The tool or format I have chosen to accommodate this emotional record of humanity, is poetry. The use of the Haiku is found (by accomplished Zen Masters), to bring communication into a higher level, conveying to the individual personal realisation and satisfaction. "Poetic voice, enlightened expression". The poetry collection is intended for publication.

In my own quest for knowledge, and using poetry as a medium, and specifically the haiku format, I can confirm that my practice is truly rewarding.

The thematic guide lines of the Japanese Haiku (in their perfect form, 5-7-5 syllables), as little three-line poems aiming towards a kind of Zen Enlightenment as mastered by Basho, Buson and Issa, are: 1. Seasonal references (kigo) to establish time and place. 2. The moment seized and rendered purely, captured in an instant of (Buddhist or Zen) enlightenment. 3. Reflections of the particular consciousness, or point of view of the author, his or her loneliness, comedy, or anger.

Artists, musicians and writers such as Michael Stipe and Nick Cave have written Modern Haiku's as a means of self-expression.

Light and Ink is an experimental project, which sets out to encourage this kind of expression in a way not stimulated or supported by the nature of our society. Perhaps the revolution should be a poetic one as we have tried pretty much everything else.