Courtesy of the Whitworth. Photographs by Michael Pollard.
An art exhibition inspired two slightly different poems. Alison Chisholm looks at subtle differences in effects
Ekphrastic poetry – the term given to poems inspired by art works – has been written for centuries. Poets have been inspired by works of art, and used them as the springboard for poems that simply describe the works, explore the thought processes of the artist, model or characters portrayed, find a narrative to animate the piece, or follow some logical or imaginative trail of ideas sparked off by the picture, statue or installation.