Martin Rieser launches his new illustrated pamphlet from Bristol Books "Self Portrait with Animals" with support from Sophie Dumont, Lisa Lopresti, Agata Palmer, Naomi Madlock, Pete Weinstock and David Punter.

In this collection of ekphrastic verses, the poet reflects on personal identity and agency inspired by pictures that include images of animals by some of the world’s most revered artists. In a sense, every painting is a self-portrait and every painted animal represents a part of the artist’s own psyche, not least that of the poet himself.
From monologues and confessional verse to ironic commentary, these poems will surprise and delight the reader, and the pictures will never be seen again without the verses echoing long in the viewer’s mind.


“Minutely observant of their artworks, deft in the use of their contextual knowledge, these witty, intelligent poems both illuminate their subjects and take springboard leaps from them into suggestions of another life or lives beyond the picture plane.”
Philip Gross, Poet


"If ekphrastic poetry is a form of homage to visual art – a poet offering attention, imagination and language to the painting, photograph or sculpture –then Martin Rieser’s wonderful ‘Self Portrait with Animals’ is an act of devotion, such is the range of insights, imagined scenarios and voices that he brings to the sixteen works of art beautifully represented in this beautiful pamphlet."
Bob Walton, Poet


“Thoughtful and often surprising.”
Lucy English, Professor of Creative Enterprise
Bath Spa University

Entry requirements: no age restrictions (under 18s to be accompanied by an adult over 21yrs, 1:1 ratio) — Read more — Read less