New Concrete Poetry Review: "Visual Poetry" by John McConnochie (BlackHill Press, Australia)
John McConnochie has set an international gold standard for asemantic (aka asemic, abstract calligraphy) constructs due to his creative leadership at the New Postliterates group on Facebook: The largest digital community of asemic writers in the universe.
On the cover of Visual Poetry is a circular work: suggesting a cycle. The remainder of the contents is 15 (vaguely) sonnet-like structures that move through a stunningly diverse array of variations and styles.
I find "reading" these poems is similar to the experience of reading a particularly moving lyric cycle. Perhaps you will approach the book from a different perspective. I hope my lyric cycle concept can serve as a beacon for those who lose their way in the forest of signs.
If John McConnochie is associated with the Neo-Abstract Expressionist bent emanating from the Postliterates, Visual Poetry is a corrective. The collection reveals depth and skill far beyond the range of most postlits and glitchers. In all the upheavals of the Asemic Movement, I believe we have overlooked John McConnochie as a guiding talent.
For me a great achievement of Visual Poetry is its mastery of textuality and lyricism in addition to McConnochie’s abilities as a visual artist. The book has literary sophistication, subtle emotional nuances and extraordinary lyricism. Do not miss it!
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