Call Out for Poems In response to THROUGH A MIRROR, DARKLY

Inspired by our current exhibition THROUGH A MIRROR, DARKLY we are delighted to host the next Poetry@JHG.

THROUGH A MIRROR, DARKLY, Naeem Mohaiemen’s new three-channel film, is produced by Artangel, and commissioned in partnership with Film and Video Umbrella and Wexner Center for the Arts. The film examines the turbulent 1970s, focusing on American students in Ohio and Mississippi protesting overseas wars and domestic racism, who were met by lethal state violence over ten days in May 1970.

In parallel, John Hansard presents earlier work by Mohaiemen that explore lost left histories of Bangladesh. This includes Afsan’s Long Day (2014), a film about unreliable allies in Germany and Bangladesh, from the perspective of historian Afsan Chowdhury, and Live True Life or Die Trying (2009), about a fateful Dhaka day when left and religious rallies faced a doubting camera.

THROUGH A MIRROR, DARKLY is on show at John Hansard Gallery until 9 January 2027. Read more about the exhibition here.

The gallery will host two lunchtime poetry workshops inspired by the exhibition. You can book on to any or both workshops here.

Self-guided inspiration
Writing prompts will also be available at the front desk for anyone wishing to explore the exhibition independently and find inspiration for their poetry.

Each poet will have up to 10 minutes for their performance, and we ask you to include a brief introduction to show how the poem(s) relate to the exhibition in your entry.

If you wish to submit a poem, please email it to S.Bhattacharya@soton.ac.uk by Monday 7 December.

Please name your word file with your name and title of poem: firstname_surname_title.doc, firstname_surname_title.docx

Successful applicants will be informed by Wednesday 16 December.

Guest Poet
Poet and writer, Nazneen Ahmed Pathak will choose the poems, and the selected poets will be invited to perform their work at the event on 7 January 2027. Performing poets will be given a £10 voucher to spend in the bookshop.