Join poet Manisha Anjali and artist and writer Mel Deerson for a workshop on the ecstatic nature of two medieval women mystic poets: Hildegard of Bingen (Germany) and Akka Mahadevi (India). Through a comparative study of their writing, we will consider how each poet articulates the ecstatic experience, spiritual longing, embodied devotion, and the natural world. Using their poems as reference, we will write our own ecstatic poems.

This workshop is for those seeking an introduction to the distinctive poetry of medieval mystic women, alongside the opportunity for poetry writing in a low-pressure environment. The workshop is open to all levels of experience, and there is no expected outcome.

WHEN: Thursday 6 August, 1-3pm

WHERE: Meet at the Arts Lab, Level 1, Arts and Cultural Building, Monash Road, Building 159 (MAP), next to the George Paton Gallery. 

RSVP HERE

Manisha Anjali is the author of Naag Mountain (Giramondo, 2024), which was listed for the Stella Prize and the Judith Wright Calanthe Award for Poetry. She is one half of Whelk, an ambient music and poetry collaboration with Genevieve Fry. She is currently a PhD candidate in Creative Writing at the University of Melbourne.

Mel Deerson is an artist, writer and teacher. She has published books with Stray Pages and 3Ply, and has exhibited at the Derek Jarman Lab (London), the Ruskin Gallery (Cambridge), School of Visual Art (New York), Monash University Museum of Art, UNSW Galleries, Liquid Architecture, Getrude Contemporary, West Space and other artist run spaces. Mel is currently a PhD candidate in Fine Art at UNSW. 

Mel and Manisha facilitate Mystic Poetry School, a six-week program about the poetry of medieval mystics of India and Europe.

Accessibility is very important at George Paton Gallery and ArtsLab. Please contact us so we can provide you with the right support to participate in this activity.