ART & CULTURE - LEVEL

Step into a World of Words: Poetry Reading Night with Matthew Peter-Carter!
Join us for an unforgettable evening where literature comes to life! Amazing actor Matthew Peter-Carter will bring some of the most powerful and thought-provoking poems to life, immersing us in the beauty of language and emotion.
March theme is Visions and Illusions
This session, we will explore poetry that blurs the line between reality and imagination, including:

• A Vision – Simon Armitage
• Prophecy – Dana Gioia
• In the Waiting Room – Elizabeth Bishop
• Children of Wealth – Elizabeth Daryush
• Kubla Khan – Samuel Taylor Coleridge

No preparation is needed—just bring your curiosity and let the words transport you. We’ll not only listen to these masterpieces read aloud by a professional actor and literature scholar, but also take time to discuss and reflect on how their ideas and emotions are shaped by the power of language.

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What type of art is made in altered states of consciousness, beyond the physical world, in connection with the divine? The history of art is filled with visions of other worlds, experiences of ecstasy and the invisible recesses of the mind. This talk looks at how humans visually depicted their experiences of the divine. We’ll look at art that conveys the ecstatic love of God in Sufi and Christian mysticism, heavenly landscapes in medieval Mexico and China, divination tools in ancient Rome and Mesopotamia as well as 20th century explorations into the mind with surrealism and hallucinogenic drugs. The goal is to genuinely explore how imagination has transformed humans beyond their immediate realities.

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An Ancient Greek story tells of the competition between two artists Zeuxis and Parrhasius. Zeuxis painted grapes so lifelike, birds flew down to peck at the painting. Confident of his own talents Zeuxis tried to draw back the curtain covering the work of his rival artist Parrhasius, only to find out the curtain was painted too!
This story tells us of what many still believe is one of the biggest pleasures of art: making us believe we are looking at the real thing. However, there are many reasons why artists trick us and this talk is about some of the reasons, pleasures, movements, developments and greatest examples!

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This is a series of workshops designed by Azumi Uchitani to explore Japanese culture through the art of calligraphy and language. We will meet bi-weekly, slowly moving from season to season and uncovering new characters, rituals, concepts and beliefs deeply rooted in Japanese lifestyle. Each event we will centre around a new symbol: we will learn its meaning, discuss a poem about it, meditate and experience the power of the concept through calligraphy practice.

### Imaginary illusion: 幻想 (gensō)

Join us this March for a captivating exploration of shodō (Japanese calligraphy) as we dive into the theme of Visions and Illusions. This workshop will focus on the kanji 幻想 (gensō), a beautiful fusion of two profound ideas:
• 幻 (maboroshi): Representing illusion, the fleeting and unreal, it reflects the ephemeral nature of existence and the essence of Japanese aesthetics.
• 想 (sō): Symbolizing thought, imagination, and contemplation, it embodies heartfelt ideas and feelings.
Together, these characters form 幻想, meaning “imaginary illusion” or “a vision detached from reality.” Through this session, we will reflect on how illusions and imagination intertwine to shape our perceptions and inspire creativity. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced practitioner, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to explore the poetic depth of Japanese aesthetics through brush and ink.

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