1 - What does Visual Poetry mean to you?
A widening in the way of understanding poetry, that brings about one more element of meaning, along with the semantic and sound-rhythmic value of words. It enables the exchange between the symbolic understanding of the word and the material aspect of the text, through the appeal to the sense of sight, reinforcing poetry’s ability to be both representational and presentational. Visual poetry is connected to the artistic avant-gardes of the 20th century, and, at the same time, in tune with the resources brought along by computers, which create new outlines for poetry in the turn of the century.
2 - Who were and/or are your sources of inspiration, your models (either poets or artistic movements) in this artistic medium?
The Futurists (especially Italian and Russian). Dada. The graphic arts derived from Constructivism. Concrete poetry. Pop art. And today: web art, e. e. cummings, Kurt Schwitters, Marcel Duchamp, Joan Brossa, Bruce Nauman, Edgard Braga, Augusto de Campos. I also get refueled by the dialogue with Brazilian artists from my own generation, such as Arnaldo Antunes, Lenora de Barros, Walter Silveira, Omar Khouri, among others.
3 - Why did you choose to create, or why do you enjoy creating, Visual Poetry as one of your artistic expressions?
I am interested in working with unusual art forms. With other ways of saying what has already been said, or the unspeakable. Visual poetry is connected to the so-called image culture, and it represents a particular way of operating in this universe, which goes beyond being simply defensive. It’s also part of the contemporary trend of blending several artistic modes. I don’t mean that it’s a superior level in the supposed evolution of art forms, though it brings about a very large change in the ways of perception.
4 - When did you first adopt Visual Poetry as a mode of expression?
Since the beginning of my work with poetry.