Haiga Showcase: Marianne Paul
I like to bring a multi-media approach to haiga, combining a variety of materials and approaches to shape the final piece. I often start with a collage as the base layer, working with paper, paste, cloth, paint, markers, and found objects. In the digital age, where much of what we create is computer-based, I love the physical act of holding/manipulating the art in my hands. I’m a bookbinder, and through that discovered Japanese papers, which are my favourite to use for their texture, strength, and beauty. Once the collage is created, I’ll photograph it and play with it further in my digital art program. Intuition is an important part of process, both for the image and finding the right poem to couple with it. I try to find a balance between being too consciously controlling, and letting the words and visuals speak for themselves.
Marianne Paul
Commentary
By Ron C. Moss, Haiga Editor
“catch and release” is brilliantly assembled. The masterful collage work depicts a cat is that is just so cute, conveying an amusement that carries through to the senryu. This haiga contains so many different, colorful elements, but everything is beautifully matched to work together … I love it!
We see with “takotsubo syndrome” more wondrous colour and a sophisticated placement of the components. Once again, we have a quirky senryu that tantalises us with its connection to the fragmented image. Maybe this is an unsolvable puzzle, which can be often being the case in matters of the heart.
“taking a beat” presents us with more abstraction, along with a heart. Perhaps the middle panel presents a heart rhythm gone crazy, an agitation emphasized by the senryu’s wordplay.
“brain mapping” offers another fine example of what can be created by combining disparate design elements. There’s a strong connection with the art and the senryu, with graphics and words merging to form an evocative moment.
About the Artist
Marianne Paul’s happy obsessions include haiku and related poetic forms, book arts and bookbinding, easy kayaking, shade gardening, and back porch birdwatching. Her chapbook Body Weight: A Collection of Haiku and Art won the inaugural Haiku Canada Marianne Bluger Chapbook Award.
I am always awestruck by Marianne’s stunning Haiga both art and accompanying haiku are always masterfully intertwined and provoke deep thought. It was so lovely to view and read this showcase of Marianne’s Haiga and the interesting commentary . I also adore the beautiful whimsy and playfulness of the cat collage. Marianne’s Haiga work is always full of such joyful experimentation, always evolving and surprising her audience with each new piece published. Thank you CHO for showcasing Marianne’s beautiful Haiga.
Lovely to see your work celebrated, Marianne. We as a group are privileged to see your clever innovative offerings each month during our Zoom editing circles. Your artwork is always creative and your poetry thought-provoking. Always something to look forward to during our sharing time. Congratulations.
So honoured to have my art and haiku featured in the Haiga Showcase. Thank you CHO and Ron Moss. Most grateful 🙏!