on visual poetics
finding an artistic voice that feels like poetry
when i was a senior in high school, i had the opportunity to take a class called Humanities, designed like a college lecture. the course introduced the origins of western art and culture, structured around five main disciplines: art, music, history, literature, and philosophy. it aimed to immerse students in the intellectual and cultural traditions that shaped western civilization, examining major works and figures from antiquity to the modern era, while analyzing their historical contexts and lasting impact.
the course was taught by five teachers, each specializing in one discipline. rather than treating them in isolation, they wove them together into a dynamic conversation. our assessments required us to connect these fields—analyzing how art, music, history, literature, and philosophy intersected within each time period.
it was in this class that i first encountered art theory. on the first day of her lecture, our teacher, Ms. Kim, introduced us to a range of artworks—from anime to Kehinde Wiley’s monumental portraits. she asked us how each piece moved us, what emotions they evoked, and what they said about the world. for the first time, i was encouraged to engage with art beyond its technical execution, moving from creation to dialogue.
Ms. Kim, a new teacher, brought a refreshing energy to the humanities course. she constantly challenged us to think beyond creation, urging us to consider the emotions and societal conversations embedded in each work. this, paired with the influence of our philosophy teacher, left a lasting impression. while my philosophy teacher introduced me to Plato and Aristotle, Ms. Kim’s visual language resonated deeply, often blending visual and verbal expression in a way that felt akin to poetry.
these teachers transformed my understanding of truth and inquiry, introducing writing and art as vital tools for exploring life. i remember reading Poetics by Aristotle in philosophy class, and its ideas spoke to me in ways i had never imagined. it introduced me to terms like catharsis—the notion that tragedy purges emotions, leading to intellectual and moral clarity—and presented poetry as a branch of philosophy, offering a path toward understanding the human experience.
as i continue to refine my artistic voice, i am brought back to the interdisciplinary dialogue between art, poetics, and philosophy. while i have often said i am a poet first, then an artist, i now see myself as a human seeking tools to pursue truth. every work of mine begins with a need to understand, and art and poetry are some of the tools i use to express those truths.
the art world often desires a consistent art form to validate one’s work, but i challenge us to think more broadly about artistic voice and style. it is limiting to believe there is only one language in the pursuit of truth—different art forms speak to us in diverse ways. confining oneself to a single methodology can stifle growth. artistic style should not be the end goal; the true question lies in the tools you choose to pursue your truth. the materials, methods, theories, and mediums you take into your practice—whether poetry, painting, mixed media, or another form—these are simply vehicles for expressing a deeper understanding of the world. and that expression is unique to every human, regardless of the tools they choose.
central to my practice is inquiry. just as poetry explores existential questions and societal issues, i believe visual art can become a form of inquiry itself. this intersectional theory of truth allows for a richer, more layered storytelling experience. as a human, my purpose is to bring good into the world and pursue truth—making the unseen visible, capturing moments of introspection, and challenging the boundaries between forms of knowledge. in everything i create, my goal is to invite the viewer to explore their inner world, fostering a deeper connection to both the artwork and the world it reflects.
with this i introduce my burgeoning artistic voice, which i call a theory of visual poetics—where color, harmony, form, material, dissonance, and texture reflect words, and each piece becomes a unique poem, exploring humanity through emotion, lived experience, and inquiry. the tools of this visual poetics have always been with me: from my dad’s recitations of Langston Hughes to my interest in spoken word poetry, to my fascination with curation, and rediscovering the paintbrush during the pandemic. it’s clear that there is nothing new in this life—only the discovery of tools to better understand the world. i’m thankful i unearthed my visual poetics.
visual asset of the week:
