Haiga Showcase: C.X. Turner
Art and poetry have threaded through my life in quiet, persistent ways. I can’t remember when I first began to combine them, only that it felt natural to let the two overlap, each illuminating and obscuring the other. Haiga, for me, is a space where poem and image, drawn or painted, meet without the need for resolution. I don’t want one to explain the other. Instead, I hope they respond gently and intuitively, in ways that offer more than either could alone. My approach is instinctive and quiet, guided more by feeling than form. Sometimes a poem leads, waiting for its echo; sometimes the drawing or painting appears first, and the words follow. I work across ink and colour, shape and sparseness, letting each piece find its rhythm. I’m drawn to misalignments, the subtle frictions that invite mood, gesture, and tension. I try to leave enough space for something unspoken to take shape.
—C.X. Turner
Click on the images below to expand.
Commentary
By Ron C. Moss, Haiga Editor
It’s a pleasure to present a showcase of these lovely haiga. Simply created, they draw our attention in a playful but often profound way, and often keep us guessing.
With “spring mist,” we have an ink painting presented in a scroll-like format. The image illustrates the life and death of trees in an abstract, haunting way, and the haiku nicely connects the mist with a ghostly presence. The result is a work that, while simple, feels both profound and mysterious.
I love the ink drawing in “thistle seed,” and the senryu connects to it in a way that invites further exploration. This is a fine example of offering just enough elements to create an interaction between poem and image, while at the same time leaving room for readers to make their own interpretations.
The beautiful colour painting of “over and over” is a treat for the eyes. The abstract shapes combine with the vertical haiku to emulate the movement of the tide. The poem itself is a truth with which we can all identify: every moment is precious and never to be repeated.
Looking at “moonspill,” we find a web-like structure that tantalizes and draws us in.
The black background and first line evoke a cosmic feel, and the haiku creates a vertical thread that ends with the unravelling of everything that has gone before. Nicely done.
About the Artist
C.X. Turner is the author of evergreen—a collection of haiku, senryu and tanka (Alba Publishing, 2024). She enjoys experimenting with Japanese short-forms, whether working on solo projects or collaborating with other poets. Her poems and artwork have been widely published in a range of journals and anthologies. Connect with heron Bluesky: @loverpoetic.bsky.social.
Hello C.X.
I love haiga, it is almost as if two poets are interacting . I love the art , abstract of the third one. Abstracts fascinate me. But the first one is probably the most memorable because of the mystical, and haunting significance–life and after life qualities. Ron Moss’s description adds another layer to them all, as well promoting an open discussion or collaboration.
Thank you,
All the Best,
Karina