introducing {
Laura Kerr: var(verse);
exploring nature + technology + place in 3 environments:
–global;
–local;
–otherworld;
//playing with themes of rereading + dialogue over time Laura & Elisabeth Sweet surveyed regions of Laura’s work relating to these themes. the pair engaged Laura’s past work in the conversation, the artwork into the challenging the conventional roles of prompter/promptee
}
//read (–global), (–local), & (–otherworld) in full below
conVERSEverse: Laura Kerr: var(–global); {
visual poet: Laura Kerr
interviewer: Elisabeth Sweet
//chat process for (–global): ES asks LK a variety of questions about nature + technology + place.
//to explore ‘global environments’, LK uses artwork she made in the past and describes them in the present.
ES: Are humans the mid-point between nature and technology?
LK: “In A Word Landscape” (2023)
“In A Word Landscape” (2023) explores the poem as the mid-point between nature and technology. The repetitive text suggests digital ecosystems, while the pixelated red color field represents natural forms.
The seamless transition between text and texture highlights this fusion, showing how the poem mediates and redefines the environment. This piece captures the blend of digital and natural elements into a unified vision, reflecting the poem’s role in harmonizing both worlds.
ES: What is the technology of nature?
LK: I wrote this haiku as a title for this poem. I think together they answer this question.
sunflowers
ciphering petals
I lose count
“Sunflowers” (2024) is a visual poem exploring nature through abstract form and color. The patterns and overlapping circles evoke sunflower petals, symbolizing nature’s boundless beauty and intricate structure.
The text, “Sunflowers / ciphering petals / I lose count,” reflects the infinite and meticulous nature of counting petals, illustrating the complexity of natural systems. This piece suggests that the technology of nature lies in its inherent design and patterns, demonstrating how visual elements can convey poetic meaning. As an asemic poem, it invites viewers to explore the intricate technology of nature through a visual and interpretive experience.
ES: How do we connect with our inner nature, using technology?
LK: “Sandbar Poem” (2024)
the tide is out
it will come back
unaccountable
“Sandbar Poem” (2024) explores the connection between our inner nature and the rhythm of natural phenomena through technology. The intricate patterns and colors evoke the shifting sands and water, symbolizing the cyclical movement of tides.
The text, “the tide is out / it will come back / unaccountable,” reflects the unpredictable yet reliable rhythm of nature. This piece illustrates how technology, through digital art, can help us connect with and reflect on the essence of natural processes. By engaging with the visual narrative, viewers are invited to connect with their inner nature, using technology as a bridge to explore and interpret the intricate patterns of the natural world.
}
conVERSEverse: Laura Kerr: var(–local) {
visual poet: Laura Kerr
interviewer: Elisabeth Sweet
//chat process for (–local): LK sends past artwork to ES; work prompts question from ES; LK answers with artwork description;
LK: The Seine River (2022)
Levels, Lines and Flows
ES: Rivers witness the rise, fall, and transformation of civilizations – of people – along its shores. What can we learn about the concept of “importance” from a river?
LK: This visual poem, with its graph-like form, traces years of recording the restless rise and fall of the Seine River in St. Boniface—As a child, I admired its tranquil waters, yet every spring, hidden currents whispered of unseen perils, a slow, surging breath that could sweep all away.
These lines and levels echo the river’s silent witness to shifting civilizations—of mud and stone, dreams carried by the current. It challenges us to see “importance” in the quiet, persistent forces that shape our world, both seen and unseen.
LK: Prairie Space (2022)
attachment in earth tones
ES: Does a sense of belonging make a place home?
LK: “Prairie Space Attachment in Earth Tones,” is deeply personal. The minimalist design and earth tones reflect the prairies’ simplicity and vastness, places that hold special significance for me. ‘Does a sense of belonging make a place home?’ For me, it’s the emotional connection to the land and memories that truly define home. This piece reflects how the landscapes of my past continue to shape my sense of belonging.
LK: Computational Gimli (2022)
a poem
of separation
ES: Distance motivates the evaluation of proximity, separation invites unity. What technologies help bridge these natural gaps?
LK: The glitch aesthetics in “Computational Gimli: A Poem of Separation” serve as a metaphor for the imperfect nature of our digital connections, symbolizing how technology both disrupts and unites us. These glitches highlight the gaps and separations we experience, while also reflecting moments of “frozen” technology – when connections are paused or disrupted. The glitch becomes a symbol of both the fragility and potential of technology, capturing the complexities of bridging distance through imperfect digital means.
}
conVERSEverse: Laura Kerr: var(–otherworld) {
visual poet: Laura Kerr
interviewer: Elisabeth Sweet
LK: For (–otherworld), could we show the images without writing questions or answers, letting these three speak for themselves?
“Garden View” (2022);
“Ocean View” (2022);
“Earthly View” (2021);
Like most art, they are the question & the answer but not necessarily a specific question & answer because it depends on the viewer’s perspective now.
They also work best if presented together, as I see them creating their own dialogue.
}
– – –
Laura Kerr (@LauraKerrArt) is a Canadian Artist + Visual Poet. She is a recipient of Queen Elizabeth Il Diamond Jubilee Medal for her contributions in Art. instead of relying on a singular style, Kerr’s work gains recognition through her threading of place + space with & between a wide range of mediums including painting & AI.
Elisabeth Sweet is a poet exploring patterns of randomness between the self and the other. her work has exhibited in group shows in New York City, Paris, and Tallinn. in Berlin, Sweet hosted an exhibition of the poem PIE which she wrote about a relationship in the form of a recipe. for the exhibition, she invited two local bakers to translate PIE into cake, and everyone ate the art. read PIE on Electric Artefacts and follow Sweet at @speciesofvalue on Instagram and X/Twitter.