Sleepwatching

A few words inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean-Michel watches me as I sleep.

Observes my sighs and twitches. Sees me sink deep into the pillow during the night.

Can he hear my dreams? I hope not.

But when I wake, he’s smiling.

This delightful piece of art hangs in my bedroom and it inspired me to write this fragment. I enjoy ekphrasis – which is the fancy word for writing in response to a work of art, photo, painting or image. They’re wonderful sources of inspiration.

This piece was made by artist Alison Aye who hand-stitches things discarded by Londoners. It’s hard to see the detail on this image, but the photo of Jean-Michel Basquiat, and the crown, come from two different magazines, which she carefully cut out before stitching them to a page of folio paper. Exceptionally delicate stitching which must be incredibly hard to do on paper.