The Rimbaud Project
Arthur Rimbaud
In France, in 1873, Arthur Rimbaud wrote “A Season in Hell”, an extended prose poem. Already an accomplished poet in his early teens, he had a profound inspiration. He formulated a plan to become illuminated, to become a visionary as well as a poet. It would enable him to create as God created, bringing new flowers, new planets, and brighter stars into our universe. His dreams crumbled, and in A Season in Hell he admits defeat and confesses his hubris. However, his gift was so great, his aspiration so exalted, and his commitment so profound, that even in failure, he gifted us with words that ring with magic and grandeur. Deeply prescient, his life and work anticipated new forms of art, a new function of the artist, and placed him at the vanguard of modern poetry.
The Rimbaud Project is a performance art rendering of this poem, A season in Hell. Body art performance, calligraphy and lettering, and dance theater are used to bring Rimbaud’s spirit to life, and show you his work through the eyes of an outsider artist.
Style
The interplay of word and image has been a key inspiration to my work and life, enabling me as a performer to disrupt comfortable social norms in a way that has a powerful impact on the viewer. My fascination with and devotion to craftsmanship and technique has led me to working for years as a restorer of antiques and art objects, as well as a calligrapher and bookbinder. I’m transgender, born male and living in a female persona. All of these are sources to mine to illuminate the genius of Arthur Rimbaud.
And why Rimbaud? Why a 19th century poet? I’ve been part of the LGBT community for many years, and observed it’s formation and development. It’s growth as a community has largely been a response to unfair treatment and disease. While necessary, I feel it’s also possible to develop other ways. Rimbaud was well known to be queer, and an homage to a member, a forefather of the LGBT community is a very positive way to further the development of community identity. As a transgender woman, playing a young man will also challenge contemporary views on identity, hopefully allowing a deeper consideration of the role of the queer in society.
