I love the way less provides clarity. I love how what isn’t allows what is to shine brighter. I love the space between words as much as I love the words that take up space. In essence, I love simplicity and the way it reveals the magic of the mundane.
So anytime I find a writer or artist with that same appreciation I am grateful. When I discover one whose love of less pushes the boundaries of art itself, I am inspired.
Aram Saroyan is one such artist.
In 1965, the young Armenian-American poet had the bold idea to create a poem with a single word "lighght".
The one word piece went on to earn the poet a $750 grant, a little over $7,000 today, from the National Endowment for the Arts. It also sparked controversy among an unlikely crowd.
While those in the literary community debated the validity of a one word poem, politicians within the U.S. Congress argued whether public funds should support such unconventional art.
But to Saroyan, "lighght" wasn’t just a one word poem. It was an opportunity to tell a story in a way few had experienced.
From the artist:
The difference between lighght and another type of poem with more words is that it doesn't have a reading process. Even a five-word poem has a beginning, middle, and end. A one-word poem doesn't. You can see it all at once. It's instant.”
Despite the controversies, or maybe because of them, Saroyan’s work continued to push the boundaries of literature including his 1969 book, Pages. The brief chapbook featured short concrete poems1, often consisting of just a few words, laid out on the page in ways that challenge the reader’s perception of space and language.
Saroyan went on to become a novelist, biographer, memoirist and playwright during his artistic journey but it was his early work that revealed a simple creative lesson that transcends genre or medium. We define our art – no one else.
Once understood, this liberating truth could have you free-falling as you seek to uncover what your art is to you or it could lead you to the next creative controversy of this century. Either way, you will have created art and that’s what matters most.
Inspired by Saroyan’s poetry I decided to try my hand at a few concrete poems.
ARTIST UPDATE:
I ended last week’s piece by sharing that I’d be taking a break from the artist profiles but I lied – unintentionally of course. After hitting publish I came across Saroyan’s work and was enamored by the boldness of his art. As I learned more about the artist behind the work, I knew I wanted to share a bit of his story with you all.
While I wish I could tell you what to expect as a reader of Found Notes, I can’t. Not even I know where my curiosity will take me. What I can say is that like my brother , “My publication is my playground,” and I plan to play to my heart’s content in the ways that I feel moved to do so. I hope that as I do, a bit of what comes from that play moves you too.
With love,
Jamal