Screenprint and Photopolymer relief, 2014

 

“You, innermost of oceans, you, infinitude of space….” is a quote from one of the Sonnets to Orpheus by the German poet Rilke. To me, it refers to all explored and unexplored aspects of the sea, which covers 70% of our planet. The poem also formed a bridge between my art on the oceans and a new project on breath and lung disease.

Rainer Maria Rilke  (1875-1926)

Aus: Die Sonette an Orpheus / Zweiter Teil

 

Breath you Invisible Poem

 

Breath, you invisible poem!

Pure, continuous exchange

with all that is, flow and counter flow

where rhythmically I come to be.

 

Each time a wave (that) occurs just once

in a sea, I discover I am.

You, innermost of oceans,

you, infinitude of space.

 

How many far places were once

within me?  Some winds

are like my own child.

 

When I breathe them now, do they know me again?

Air, you silken surround,

completion and seed of my words.

 

Atmen, du unsichtbares Gedicht

 

Atmen, du unsichtbares Gedicht !
Immerfort um das eigne
Sein rein eingetauschter Weltraum. Gegengewicht,
in dem ich mich rhythmisch ereigne.

 

Einzige Welle, deren
allmähliches Meer ich bin ;
sparsamstes du von allen möglichen Meeren, –
Raumgewinn.

 

Wieviele von diesen Stellen der Räume waren schon
innen in mir. Manche Winde
sind wie mein Sohn.

 

Erkennst du mich, Luft, du, voll noch einst meiniger Orte ?
Du, einmal glatte Rinde,
Rundung und Blatt meiner Worte.