Engaged Visuality. The Italian and Belgian Poesia Visiva Phenomenon in the 60s and 70s

The conference will be held in English, French and Italian. Open to the public.
July 7, 2022, 09:00 – 18:00 (Academia Belgica, Rome. Conference Room)
8 July 2022, 10:00 – 18:00 (University of Rome “La Sapienza”. Aula Odeion, Museum of Classical Art)

In a historical-cultural moment in which poetry could present itself as “phono-, ideo-, typo-, icono, photographic; mono-, stereo-, framework-, ambiophonic; phonographic, bioscopic, kinetic; kinesic, eatable, odorous, tangible “(H. Damen, 1972), the exoeditorial and countercultural experiences of the Italian and Belgian visual poets marked in an unprecedented way the hybrid and intermediate scenario of experimental poetry of the 1960s and 1970s, creating a unique model of interartistic cooperation where verbivocovisual research, media discourse and social criticism gave substance to the most subversive territories of the artistic-literary expression of the second half of the twentieth century. Through a comparative and interdisciplinary perspective that involves art history, literary criticism and media studies, the conference analyzes the impact of mass communication, semiotics and the political message on the international phenomenon of visual poetry, retracing the prodomes and developments of the militant art magazine Lotta Poetica founded by Sarenco and Paul De Vree (first series: 1971-75): the organ of diffusion of visual poetry and of the numerous intellectual and transcultural exchanges between the two countries. Researchers, artists and poets are invited to open reflections on the issues addressed and to examine an exceptional editorial project that reflects the importance of Italian-Belgian cultural transfers in the 60s and 70s, focusing on the uniqueness of their historical, critical and aesthetic legacy in the history of visual poetry of the neo-avant-garde.

Participation is free, upon registration and within the limits of available places, in compliance with the health regulations in force.

To book please contact: mariaelena.minuto@kuleuven.be