site_specific



Lara performing her Stone Poem in Plettenbergbay at Site_Specific Land Art event, 24 May 2011. photo: Timothy Twidle



In the beginning of May I met the wellknown South African land artist Strijdom van der Merwe for a cup of tea in Stellenbosch. He mentioned that he is going to be part of South Africa's first Land Art event Site_Specific hosted in Plettenbergbay in May this year. My senses immediately stood on end – I have lots of admiration for this type of artistic expression – seeing that it uses mostly natural material in a natural environment. Land Art relies strongly on photography, because most of this art is momentary/ephemeral expressions – wind and water can come at a whim and whisk it away. Strijdom and I briefly discussed a way of how I can contribute. I love performing my poetry in nature and using found objects in my poetry. I was so happy that Strijdom created an opening for me to contribute to Site_Specific.

Nature is such a poetic and theatrical space where my poetry can truly take flight . I felt honoured that the artists created moments for me to interact with their work.  Thanks especially to Simon Max Bannister, Andrew van der Merwe and Gordon Froud for letting me dialogue with their art via my poetry. As some of you following my blog have noticed, the past year I have found lots of  animation from fire, clay, soil, stone. To be part of this very earth-inspired event has spurred my creativity even more.

Yet I must confess, my energies have been scattered a lot with the Afrika Burn and Site_Specific events - so much stimulation and sharing primal and elemental beauty. Besides utter enchantment with the Burnings, the Creativity and the Love, sleep deprivation was one effect that in time overtook me. I overrode the fatigue and pushed forth wanting to be so much part of these incredible expressive experiences. As much as I was being earthed, I was at the same time being unearthed. That is the life of Lara. I want to share and experience so much yet I have to make peace with the boundaries of my body and soul.

Thanks to all that have shared their hearts and creativity with me. My heart is so filled-up with the hope that this world still has wholesome and beautiful places to explore and be part of. AND my gratitude goes to all for supporting my form of expression. It is a very lonely and daunting task at times.

Applause to Strijdom van der Merwe and his vibrant team who created and organised such a great event as Site_Specific (http://www.sitespecific.org.za/).

Here a poem I performed during the event:

Stone poem

my poem is stone which i lay down in your hand

feel the lines, the shape,

the contours, the textures

you need no eyes to see this poem

you need no ears to hear this poem

FEEL the organica that was purged

by the heaven's fire

into hardy inhabitant of this clay-earth

my poem is stone which i lay down in your hand

feel the weight weighing down

like the fertile earthiness of breasts

into the hollow of your hand

this stone is poem which i lay down in your hand

feel the sound, feel the metaphor,

feel the rhythm and rhyme

break open in soft sand between your fingers

smear this soft powder on your cheeks:

i anoint you the expectant mother

who conceives sand

gives birth to stone

and raises it to mountain



The poetry of photography

I partook in a multi-media collaboration Op het Punt van aanraken with Spanish-Dutch photographer, Carmen Gonzalez and music improviser, Francois le Roux (The Ha!Man) at the Het Podium theatre, The Netherlands, 2009. The theme explored aanraken ie touch on a sensual, erotic and spiritual level.

Initially Carmen sent me her photographs and I started adding poetry to them; soon a beautiful dialogue between image and word unfolded. The photos were projected onto a big screen on the back of the stage, while I performed around the images and Francois' evocative music - quite a theatrical experience! 

View more of Carmen's hauntingly beautiful photographs http://www.flickr.com/photos/solea/

Here are six (of the 36) photographs>

spelonk

my lyf lê soos ‘n oop poel

kom klim met jou kale lyf binne my

laat ek weer my elke bloeddruppel voel

met jou vlees wat deur my water spelonk sny

 swart vlinder

jy is die swart vlinder wat

op my lippe kom land

ek kan skaars asemhaal

met jou fluweel vlerke

wat teatraal my

mond annekseer

verdwaalde skadu-wese

die verdwaalde skadu-wesens in die dig-geslote vertrek

verlang na die warmte tussen jou bo-bene

smag na die soele gehyg van jou asem

hunker na die bloed wat so vlak op

die vel in duisende digte takke tril

die skadu-wesens begeer die warm aanraking van jou vel

honger na die driedimensionaliteit van jou kniekoppe

kwyl oor jou polsende borste

en wil weer gevind raak in die donker holtes

van jou lyf

drinkezusters

wellustig is die aanraking van tong

teen die koel drup drup van sensualiteit

drup drup langs die wande van my mond

deur die gange van my keel tot

onder waar dit in die warm holte

van my oop lyf uitstort

en weer van voor begin

wellustig is die aanraking van been

teen hand vryf die erotika

vryf oor die binnewaaie van my been

langs die dye van my onrus tot

daar waar dit hygend tot stotterende

sillabes vanuit my lippe

aarde toe val

wellustig is die aanraking van hitte teen hitte

golwend en botsend teen mekaar

en deurmekaar tot sweet uitpêrel op vel

en stringe van my

en stringe van jou aanmekaar ryg

en dorstige monde tonge uitwerp opsoek na
daardie eerste druppel van versadiging

bitch

sal jy my nog aanraak as
ek die kop van 'n hond het
en die lyf van 'n vrou?

 

 

boudoir

kyk maar moenie raak
wil hê maar moenie raak
reik uit maar moenie raak
begeer maar moenie raak
hunker na maar moenie raak
honger maar moenie raak
dors maar moenie raak
kwyl maar moenie raak
wellus maar moenie raak

The Elusive Spring

I met a land artist, Simon Bannister at the First International Land Art event, hosted in Plettenbergbay, 22-29 May. Our hearts are very much in the same place - in the wild elements of nature. I want to write so much about him. Yet I think for now I will let the poetry speak for now : we engaged in a poetic dialogue playing the roles of various "elemental characters". Here his re-mix of the dialogue>

The Elusive Spring (remix) by NATURE

I am the seed ignited with soular light
budding with urgency to taste my kindred elements tonight
Long I've travelled to find the sweet truth of the African dust
The dark waters of your trust

I am that ripple astir in the dark flesh of earth
the great memory of all life that has thundered before me
I am the stars reflected, the dust, the water, the rain
Those streaks of light that wound so deep

I am the thirst, my falling leaves playing the scales of universal love
while your willful light dances before me
Deeper my wild roots yearn for your sanctuary
the forests and mountains, the unity

It is the tip-ends of my tenacious roots that beat fiercest
through the wild darkness
to find that rarest and sweetest of water
longing for your love

With this kiss, I transform
With this moment, i now see
The spark of your molecular truth
the elusive spring, the spell you cast on me

As the seismic dance of our hearts, warms to earth's mercurial nature
the inflamed rhythm beats,
the primal pulse, spinning the infinity
selfless eternal wanderlust

Cut me down, I do not care, for I am taken with life,
into the ground I will return to feed another maker
All that remains to be done is to celebrate
This ephemeral brilliance of our fate

hotel bedford

ek het in 'n vorige post (22 Junie) oor die GREAT oosthuysen-familie geskryf waar ek tydens my fiets-reis in die oos-kaap in februarie 2011 oorgebly het. in kort : 'n familie wat hulle deur en harte vir my oopgemaak het, sonder om my van 'n bar of soap te ken. chop-chop het die ys gesmelt, die soundsystems uitgerol, gepartykie laat die biesies bewe. die pa, andre, het vir my 'n CD opgeneem waarop ek 50 minute se klaviermusiek speel. my eerste vol-lengte opname! ek het laas week een van die tracks op my blog opgelaai. hou die spasie dop > nog meer gaan volg(-;

hulle seun, diaan, het die sondag oggend "Hotel California". saam met sy kitaar gesing  - wat 'n engel van 'n stem. ek het die woorde van die song http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/eagles/hotelcalifornia.html gevat en dit omskep in >>>

hotel bedford

vir die oosthuysens in bedford

op 'n helder ooskaap straat, warm wind in my hare
koel geur van skaduwee's wat oprys deur die blare
daar voor aan die groen kant van die straat
hoor ek hoe glimmerende klanke met my praat
my voete groei vlerke en my oë word helder
ek't gestop vir die nag of drie
daar staan julle in die deur
ek hoor hoe adam blaf
en ek dink by myself,
'hierdie is die knus sonhuis EN die koel oase van 'n sterregewelf'
julle vat my fiets en wys my die weg
daar was stemme deur die gang,
wat aan my ore kom hang...

welkom by Hotel Bedford
so 'n lieflike plek
wat jou gees en lyf opwek
soveel liefde en plesier in Hotel Bedford
enige tyd van die dag
kan jy dit daar vind sonder om te soek of te wag
haar stem is die van 'n aktrise, sy het 'n huis van spieëls en klippe
en 'n fan-club van kinders en engele wat hang aan haar rooi, rooi lippe
sy het baie mooi, mooi drome wat sy op haar vlerke neem
en hoe ons kon dans in die valentynsnagte
soele sweet en soene bly klou alomheen
sommige dans om te lewe, sommige lewe om te dans!

so roep ek die kaggaberg,
asseblief, bring my 'n glas koelte
hy antwoord, 'sorrie, ons is uit; ons het dit nog laas bedien in die 
voorjaar se soelte'
en nogsteeds klink die stemme van hier naderby
wek hulle geeste in die middel van die dag wat agter my kuite bly ingly
en ek hoor hulle sê...

welkom by Hotel Bedford
so 'n lieflike plek
wat jou gees en lyf opwek
soveel liefde en plesier in Hotel Bedford
enige tyd van die dag
kan jy dit daar vind sonder om te soek of te wag
hulle weet hoe om te lewe in Hotel Bedford
wat 'n wonderlike plek om die tyd te verwyl
daar waar jy in die oase se skadu's kan skuil;
die liedere van 'n suiwer seunstem kan hoor sing
en die sketse van 'n meisiehand oral om jou sien uitkring

kitare teen die muur
koffie op die vuur
en hy sê, 'kom speel die klawers van die yamaha,
ek sal jou opneem vir die nageslag, sê net ja'
en tussen die klankmeester se kabels
roep ek my galoperende vingers bymekaar
en ek speel diep in die rekenaar se geheue in
en voel en hoor hoe die klanke my hart oorwin

...

die laaste ding wat ek onthou, ek't my rooi perd opgesaal teen 'n wolklose
lug
en uit die hittegolwe van Poseidon gevlug
ek kon die roep van die pad nie langer ignoreer
om die lesse van die swerwers verder te leer
die portier sê,

ons is geprogrammeer om liefde te gee en te ontvang.
jy kan enige tyd jou gang gaan
maar jou hart sal bly om na Hotel Bedford te verlang.

24 februarie 2011

To my fellow Afrika Burners - a poem for you all

I miss my Burning Family so much. You have crept deep into my heart.

I want to share a poem with you

The Pulse of Fire

from this wild dance i stumble over my feet

the wild energy

still clinging around my calves

i tiptoe guardedly with

the pulse of fire that pumps firelight through my veins

it can only be fertile fire

that is so alive

and colours my blood red-hot

so that I can look out over the plains

like newly fired clay

and feel decades of survive

beating through my blood

the fever of the will charges through the flaming tunnels

with an insistent rhythmica

it reforms my feet into

primitive pulsations of dance

that flames over the skin of earth

tautly strung muscles tremble ritualistically

like resonating songs over vocal chord and plains

yes, indeed! fire's captured energy knows no equal

fire speaks in one language

that all clay and skin fathom without cerebrality

it is the embrace of fire

that teaches us to love

it is the unrest of fire

that teaches us to know no peace

unquenchable phrases of fire

siss steam sing

fired body is now alone,

in her vitrified melancholy,

so fiercely alone

photo: Francois le Roux

Direction of Fish / Rigting van Vis

In March this year I was part of a colloborative exhibition/show in Parktown, Jhb. The fellow artist was sculptor Coenie Strydom. He assembled 18 of his ceramic and cement sculptures for which I wrote 18 complementing poems. Here are two of the pieces >

rigting van vis I

vis-kop-en-vin wys die rigting aan

waar ons heen moet gaan:

na die water-katedrale

waar ongehoorde liedere

deur wier en alg breek

en die water-hamonieё

my lyf be-vin

en my ge-aard-heid

distilleer tot

hierdie nuwe

vis-bestaan

-

direction of fish I

head and fin of fish show the direction

in which we must go:

to the water cathedrals

where unheard songs

break through moss and kelp

and the harmonies of water

re-fin my body

and distil

my being into

this new

fish existence

rigting van vis II

soos katedrale-klanke
klink die see deur die holtes
van die skeletale oorblyfsel van
vis
roep sy oogholtes hunkerend
na die nat glimmer vinne
wat eens die soet smaak van die getye 

geproe het
-

direction of fish II

the sea sounds like cathedral timbres

through the cavities

of the skeletal remnants of

fish

the hollow of his eyes calls longingly

to the wet glimmer fins

that once tasted the sweetness

of the speed of tides

Pols van Vuur

Pols van Vuur by Lara Kirsten

Herewith my first sound appearance on my blog!  It is me improvising on the piano!

[play the track while reading the poem below]

I am playing on an electronic piano of the Oosthuyzen family I met in February this year in the quaint Eastern Cape town of Bedford. It was during my first cycle journey of the year; I stopped over at the schools in the small towns and gave workshops in Afrikaans poetry and where there was a piano at hand, we made music as well!

I was staying over at the hostel of the Bedford Country School when friend, Hessie in J-Bay suggested I make contact with the Oostuyzen family living just next to the school. Hessie emphasized that they have a sound studio (-; I loaded my bike, waved the school kiddies goodbye and trekked next door. I made contact and lo and behold, this vibrant family opened up their home for me for the entire weekend. Andre Oosthuyzen, his wife Rika and their two beautiful children, Diaan and Coreen are the "music" and "arty" family in Bedford. 

And what a weekend we had. It was Valentinesday the Saturday and sommer in a jiffy they organised that I play piano for the Dance that evening. Andre is also a brilliant DJ, so after the formality of dinner and civilized piano music we had the djol of our lives. You can not imagine that a mother of two can party so exuberantly as Rika! Go Girl!

Anyway to get back to the recording - I never thought I would do a recording on an electronic instrument; I just prefer the wood, ebony and ivories of a REAL piano. Yet I grabbed the opportunity when Andre suggested the idea of recording. On the Sunday in their livingroom, amidst noises coming from the television, computer games and chattering I recorded a 50 minute CD. (That is the wonder of this electronic instrument - you play directly into the computer so no external noises are picked up.) Andre, well-versed in sound engineering quickly sorted all the tracks and voila, burnt the CD and gave it to me to take on my journey. The collection of 23 tracks is a mix of classics, blues, jazz and improvisations. I have used the CD as a demo; and it has been opening a few doors of opportunity and sharing! 

To have ones music on disc is such a powerful tool. And even more powerful now that I have discovered the tools of the internet and uploaded a track onto The Net. Technological gadgets and programs are so much part of our First World existence, and yet I am dumbstruck by the possibilities and convenience it adds to one's life.

The track featuring here was inspired by a filmmaker and friend of mine in Stellenbosch, Pierre Lombard. I initially called the track "Son op die R63". I had visions of Pierre making a short film of this long and beautiful road, the R63. I cycled on that road in the sweltering heat of that February sun. I now changed it to "Die pols van Vuur" (The pulse of Fire). My Afrikaans poem below adds an extra dimension to the music. Read, listen and enjoy!

die pols van vuur

uit die wilde dans steier ek

die wilde pas

nog taai om my kuite

trippel ek vreesbevange met

die pols van vuur wat fakkels deur my are pomp

dit kan net vrugbare vuur wees

wat so lewendig in my binnenste kom sit

en my vel rooi-warm verkleur

sodat ek soos ‘n nuut gepoleerde beeld

oor die plein staar

en dekades van survive

in my rooi bloed voel klop

die koors van die wil kom met die vlamme-tonnels

deurgelei met ‘n indringerige ritmika

dit hervorm my voete tot

primitiewe passies dans

wat vlam oor die vel van aarde se kontinente van klip

styfgespande spiere tril ritualisties

soos uitgegilde liedere oor stemband en vlaktes tril

ja, wragtig! hierdie vasgevange energie ken geen gelyke

vuur praat in een taal

wat alle klei en vel sonder serebraliteit kan verstaan

dis die omhelsing van vuur

wat ons leer om lief te hê

dis die onrus van vuur

wat ons leer om geen vrede te ken

voortstuwende frases van vlam

suis stoom sing

nou is beeld van lyf alleen,

in haar geharde melankolie,

so bitter-alleen

day in day out

day in

day out

i look to find traces of you

in the folds of the city

on the edges of the wind

i catch phantom-parts of you

a shoulder here

a cheekbone there

but never the whole you

i scavenge alleys

sniff torn newspapers

all that i pick up is

signs of your unwhererabouts

A great connection

I am staying over for a few days at the home of a good friend, Maggie Verster. She is The One who has rigged me up with my blog, my facebook, twitter and gmail and helped to set-up my blackberry to perform like a mini-wizard! We met in Hogsback where she is based for some weeks in a year. For the rest of the time she lives with her family in Jozi and she opened up her home for me whenever I pass by. She has wonderful wifi connection so I can connect, update and upload to my heart's content. 

Maggie is an Educational Technology Specialist. For REAL. Can you imagine someone like this crossing my path? I am blessed to the max! It is one of those relationships one can so easily take for granted, because of the free flow of interaction. Yet I need to send a special note of gratitude to her. I can run to her with almost any technological heart ache and she will find a remedy! I know you are reading (and administering) my blog, so you will read this, dear Maggie.

Maggie and I connect in a wonderfully flowing and comfortable way. She is such a spirited and enthusiastic woman. In her company any mood of heaviness and despondency evaporates. She has been a great support to me. If I can call anyone a fan of mine, she is definitely it - the best you can possibly imagine! Around her I feel the confidence of a lion on the hunt. As an artist astir with so many mind and body flights she has a way of reconnecting many of my loose running threads. Initially we had passionate dialogue about the pros and cons of cyber-networking. Before I met her I was rather reactionary about the whole C-generation and its workings. To be honest, I was simply uninformed.

Only two months ago I started to accept all my Facebook requests, tweeting and blogging. Lo and behold, I am now quite addicted...I love photographs, writing and communication... so all these tools were created for me!!! I understand why I rebelled against it – the fear of being sucked in.. And ooipelooi I am so sucked in!! I love crossing boundaries. It was bound to happen to step into this realm!

Maggie > ek onthou my en jou dialoog aan die begin  >

ek se banaal
jy se kommunikasie
ek se ydelheid
jy se opvoeding
ek se tentakels
jy se omhelsing

jy het vir my 'n wereld oopgemaak wat my eers skrik op die lyf gejaag het.
'n wereld wat my dizzy, f*kkin dizzy maak.
maar sonder druk of stoot het jy my in die wonder web ingetoor.
ja hierdie wereld toor met my kop
dit maak my duiselig
dit oorweldig my
dit stimuleer my eindeloos
 - ek sit tot wie weet watter ure in die oggend op jou wifi -
dit daag my uit
dit verskuif my grense
dit laat my ril van plesier
'n wereld met nimmereindigende poorte
wat my soos Alice – weirdly wonderful – laat voel

I feel so well connected – on so many levels – thank you,  Maggie. You are much loved and appreciated!
x

Shakespeare in the nude

When I start poetizing about nudity then you should know I do take the matter of the bare skin very seriously! I felt so inspired that I took one of Shakespeare's famous sonnets and transcribed it into this:

Let me not in the necessity for clothes

Succumb to illusion. Nude is not nude

When it covers the uncoverable,

Or colours the contours to recontour:

Oh no, it is an ever-fixed state,

That looks on shame, and is never shaken;

It is the compass to all bodies,

Whose senses are challenged yet sharpened.

Nude's not society's fool, though erotic mounds

Keep coming under the knife of moral scrutiny;

Nude deceives not in the face of exposure,

But bares it all till shame loses its name.

If nude be proved as a true right of skin,

We will be forever redeemed from this so-called sin

The original Shakespeare (Sonnet 116):

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no it is an ever-fixed mark,

That looks on tempests, and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come;

Love alters not with this brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error, and upon me proved,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Dilemma

I have seen a youtube video of a segment of my performance at
AfrikaBurn - the piece where I was born from the ground, naked with
only a panty on.
Initially when I saw it I was quite excited and flustered. He first
and last time I have appeared in youtube videos was with a poetry
performance in The Netherlands 2 years ago. I was fully dressed then
(-;
The cameraman who uploaded the video on youtube 2 days ago only asked
me whether I mind him uploading the video AFTER the fact. I initially
told him, no worries, and I didn't feel any worries. The fuller
stirrings of this dilemma only started hitting me now.
The context of my performance was at Afrikaburn where one is
surrounded by likeminded people. It is a safe space for the creative
and expressive individual. I do varied performances from strict
classical music recitals, standard performing poetry events, to
challenging, primal, cathartic stuff like this STOF piece at
Afrikaburn. I am quite comfortable with the many facets and roles of
my creative "personae". (It was and still is a long journey to reach
full confidence.)
Yet, I am starting to feel very vulnerable, exposed to see this
youtube video. People's responses have been quite good so far. I think
and hope it's going to be mostly Afrikaburners who'll watch the video,
but hey, Lara, don't be SO naïve. I hear youtube is far more popular
than facebook. (!) Must I feel flattered to have my (naked) presence
on youtube? Must I feel ill at ease? The worry is not the performance
as such - one can scarcely hear my voice. It is the nudity. People
sometime can not see beyond the flesh to the deeper meaning. I have
moved many boundaries in my mind and body, yet I still have a solid
sense of decency, respect, timing and placing. I perform in the nude
in special circumstances, like at a "freedom of expression" festival
like Afrikaburn. The context is of utmost importance. The piece was
directly feeding off the ground, and interacting with a live audience
who was relatively open to and prepared for the idea and theme (and
the nudity).
To have it wam-bam on youtube now seems to me somewhat out of place,
uprooted, disfigured... I can go on oh so dramatically. Why make a big
deal of it? I will, because I feel and think things through. I put
myself out there with great circumspection.
Mm.. The internet can be an untameable beast.
What to do? I don't feel shy. I just feel ever so slightly
uncomfortable. There is quite a lot of photographs of me and other
nude Afrikaburners doing their rounds on the Net. We don't have
control over it.
I hear you saying: if you had a problem with publicised nudity then
you should not have been running around and performing naked in the
first place! Afrikaburn is a heaven for photographers - not just
because of nudists, but the incredible beauty of the colours, the sky,
the artworks, the costumes, the stress-free and attractive demeanour
of the people. I know many moments there are being recorded on film.
That is very much part of the Afrikaburn joy - to archive the
beautiful spontaneity and expressivity.
Afrikaburn is a happening that can and should not be kept under cover.
The spirit and ethos of the fest should spread wider than the Tankwa -
respect for nature; primal dialoguing with the elements; creating a
tolerant space for the free and creative soul; engendering a loving
and compassionate community; installing a gifting economy to replace a
capitalist, consumer-driven society; advocating a mindful,
self-sustainable lifestyle. The deeper meaning of Afrikaburn is not
fully comprehensible from an outsider's perspective. Photos, video and
stories do their utmost best to share what happened there.
I go in the nude with a sense of playfulness, innocence and integrity.
I would like to see the public's perception of nudity broaden with
tolerance and understanding. But we live in warped times. I am comfy
with my nudity in public, mainly because i have an innate attraction
to what is natural and honest. Yet I am not that innocent that I do
not know that nudity can be wrongly judged AND misused. No one has
ever been nasty about my nudity, because I move in mostly open-minded
circle of friends. I do not wish to provoke or lustify like MTV
videos. I wish to make people aware of a childlike spirit that
obstinately clings to the bare skin. (Why can children be barefoot and
bare-bodied and not be frowned upon in public?). It is a naïve wish
perhaps, but I would like to see a future where the paradisiacal state
of innocence, freedom and naturalness will return.
To be comfortable with myself in the Tankwa comes quite naturally, but
to be comfortable to see my semi-nudity spread over the desensitized
space of the internet is quite another.
My mind is unresolved, and a wee but unsettled. Please let me know
what YOU make of it all. Communicate with me on this, please. I am
interested in your opinion.