Commentary by Ron Moss
Haiga Showcase: Cristina Angelescu
Cristina shows us her view of the world with photographs that resonate and intrigue.
The monochrome “preparing the home” juxtaposes an almost surrealistic sculpture against a tranquil setting of lake and mountains. The poem links and shifts in a strong, almost shocking way, so that we feel the impact of the emotional situation.
The scattered, shining coins in “things I’m willing” focus our attention. A clever double meaning with “change” sets up a visual link to the poem. The last line adds more to the pot and we are left to insert our own experiences—the mark of a well-written senryu.
“stone cold hands” is another monochrome with a touch of mystery: what is on the cards, and what is the connection with how they are placed? The hard, stony surfaces link to the poem, and the last line gives us pause for thought.
The final image, an abstraction, shows someone with head in hands. It’s powerfully evocative and links to the question in the haiku, adding to the emotion. The text and design, as in all the haiga presented, are simple, clean, and well executed.
Christina explains in her own words:
I came upon haiga by accident. Being a passionate amateur photographer I thought to myself that it should be easy. Just like the picture, the haiku is hidden in plain sight, but you have to train your eye and your soul to pick and combine them. You have to change something in your lifestyle. And because it seems that everything that should be said is said, I try to find inspiration in outer space, astronomy, quantum mechanics…
About the Artist
Cristina Angelescu is an engineer from Constanta, Romania. “I enjoy traveling, always with my camera,” she says, “seeking remote, deserted places to capture the voices of the past. I like all the hidden tiny details nobody pays attention. Because they have the most to tell.”