The project features the poem I Tore Up My Poems presented as an intimate video performance, part of the artist's series, "Nonô Reads Blog Verses." This work functions as a profound act of metapoetry, exploring the necessity of radical self-reinvention amidst a fragmented global context. The central action—tearing up past poetry to write anew—is interpreted as a gesture of liberation rather than disdain, mirroring the process of confronting one's history to define an authentic present.
By choosing to dismantle and rebuild the poetic form, the work aligns strongly with the theme of Unruly Forms, demonstrating how the medium itself must be continually challenged and reimagined to adequately contain the complexities of contemporary reality. Furthermore, it speaks to the notion of Hybrid Selves, as the poem documents an identity in constant flux, seeking the courage to be "the truth of who I am today," even if marked by the scars of past experience. The video format amplifies the vulnerability and urgency of this artistic and personal transformation.
The project is part of the subtheme Unruly Forms – Experiments in the Poetic Wild.
Author
M.ª Leonor Costa (Nonô)
M.ª Leonor Costa (Nonô) is an eclectic and impressionistic Portuguese poet, author, and literary curator based in Mem Martins. Known professionally as Nonô, she has published six individual poetry collections and contributed to over 60 collective works, demonstrating a prolific commitment to various literary forms, including traditional poems, quadras, and haikus.
Nonô’s writing style is characterized by the capacity to merge the intimate and the universal, focusing on themes of transformation, resilience, and the subtle narratives found in nature and everyday life. Her work often explores the cyclical aspects of existence and the continuous search for authenticity. Beyond the page, she actively engages the public through the multimedia series "Nonô Reads Blog Verses," where she gives voice to her poetry via audio and video, enhancing the accessibility and performative dimension of her art. Nonô is also the creative force behind Poesias da Nonô Zine, further cementing her role in promoting poetry as a vibrant, living infrastructure for connection and shared consciousness.
