Lemn's Southbank Blog

Paintings of Modern Life

Lemn Sissay — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 20:26:20 +0000

The Hayward Gallery. The Southbank centre. 3pm. The bike is tied up outside. The combined mileage of the journey to and from the southbank centre is eleven miles.

A small crowd has gathered inside the gallery. And the tour begins. To carry the concept and the art for the next hour is an impossible task. The concept and the art do it themselves. I have chosen pieces to talk about and draw the crowd through the exhibition. The tour should have been one hours long but time flies and I am an half hour over time. What I should have done is timings.

Still, it went as well as it should have done. It was a new thing to me, though I can’t help feeling inadequate in that I haven’t got history of art. I read some poems next to the pictures which was fun.

Head of Radio Four says yes to event

Lemn Sissay — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:22:52 +0000

I’m in The Riverside Rooms at the south bank 10am. At 11am I meet Chris from The Poetry Library and Lucy Macnab to discuss The Poetry Book. We decide on poetry library interns for the administration and research and the possibility of launching the thing at Poetry International in November 08.

Storytelling Chairs

Lemn Sissay — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:06:07 +0000

A day including time at the south bank rather than a record of work only at the south bank. I wake early and walk out onto the balcony overlooking Cardiff Bay. In a couple of hours time I will be on stage reading poems to five hundred people, it’s a contrast to this scene of tranquillity. The car is picking me up at 9am. At bang on 9am I am informed by text that I am actually reading at 1pm. So why did I leave the South Bank and travel from London last night to stay in this hotel. There’s been a cock up I can smell it.

CREATE

Lemn Sissay — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:40:51 +0000

I am not as much as a bull in a china shop as a hippo in pink bootees tip toeing his way over egg shells to the kind of tinkety tinkety music sound in old cartoons. But that's in one reality. In another, the one I live in, there is a dynamic action happening and event is the result. As grace Nichols said to me keep on keeping on. Creat. I leave the south bank to go into the world of literature - Cardiff.

A song at The Hayward.

Lemn Sissay — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:33:22 +0000

It’s another writers advice day at The Southbank centre. It’s great to get into the office at The Riverside Rooms overlooking the Thames. I meet the first writer in The Hayward Gallery café. First time I had a meeting there. I like the place. It brings a whole new flavour to the south bank and reminds me of The Dry Bar in Manchester and many other Manchester bars. I think it is because all the industrial workings are deliberately exposed. These meetings stretch through the day.

Writers Advice Sessions

Lemn Sissay — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:30:09 +0000

Monday: Arrive at 9am. The entire day is given over to meeting writers and offering advice. The first person to arrive is an American gentlemen in England and a wheelchair and the last person of the day is a black woman from Hackney who is writing a thriller.

Literature and Talks is now Literature and Spoken Word

Lemn Sissay — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:21:27 +0000

Arrive at 10am. Spend an hour answering emails and chatting to Schlomo who is still high from the weekend performance with Martha Wainwright and all. I hear it on his recording and it sounds like it was a treat! Schlomo is good people. At 11am meet with Lucy Macnab of Learning and Participation. We go through some of projects. First for the storytelling chairs. I choose a story which will be recorded next week – 13th – the recording will be placed inside specially commissioned chairs for children to listen to. Storytelling chairs. Magical.

Mary King in The Morning!

Lemn Sissay — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 19:54:53 +0000

We end the meeting on a ramble which is always a good thing and I learn of the three K’s – reasons for an artist to do any job “The three K’s darling” says Mary raising an imperious eyebrow with imperative twinkle in the eye “ Kash Kudos or Kicks” Mary then takes me through them, each a reason to do a job. "There is a fourth" she says “Kanucky”. Mary should smoke. She would suite a cigarette in a gold cigarette holder. And she would only ever smoke Galouise!

Martin Colthorpe in the morning

Lemn Sissay — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:03:15 +0000

Here’s to the clearing of air. Martin calls for a meet and comes over to The Riverside Rooms and we do just the stuff that I have wanted and it seems he has wanted - we communicate clearly about projects and events. We discuss the Linda Smith mix up. It’s the first time Martin Acting Head of Literature has seen The Riverside Rooms I think. Certainly it is the first time I have seen him here. But lets be clear, I only got my phone fixed last week. And I only got PAPER for the first time last week. It’s early days adn this is a good sign.

Are You Famous?

Lemn Sissay — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 19:27:55 +0000

When I visit schools children often ask me “are you famous” I wasn’t cruel enough to say the answer is in the question but it is. Famous living poet is however an oxymoron. There are few Living Poets that truly deserve the moniker - Benjamin is one of them. I was talking of Teachers Dead the book by Benjamin Zephanioa wasn’t I.

LAKA D, Lambeth and an Olympic Torch.

Lemn Sissay — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 19:17:03 +0000

I meet Laka (the meeting was set by Neil Quinten) talk about writing a piece for Lambeth Children event in March next year. We get along famously, myself and Laka. We know similar people. To write this piece I shall have to research The Olympic Torch and have a first draft for her ready by the end of December, before I go to LA for the month. It’s a welcome challenge and just the kind of reason that I am here at the south bank. I can’t really explain how wonderful this meeting was, suffice to say it was perfect for the end of the day and just makes me want to come into the office tomorrow. I am going home now. .

A Gorgeous Day for an Artist in Residence

Lemn Sissay — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:08:37 +0000

It’s a gorgeous day today. At ten am I pass in to an Italian Deli just outside Little Italy and buy a Panatone as a present for the production and literature team – they all sit close to each other. It’s a thankyou for there organisation of the 24 hour party people event.

It's not what's said, it's what's not said that says it All.

Lemn Sissay — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 20:21:34 +0000

I wake at 4.30am in the lake district, get on the 6am train cause I missed the 5.30 and at 9.45am I am on level five of the Royal Festival Hall just as Jude walks around the corner. I am with Hannah from the cape farewell team. Cape farewell are the original residents of THE RIVERSIDE ROOMS where my “office” is. Jude delivers her talk on The Entire Vision and artistic Policy of the South Bank. It is assisted by four massive pieces of art plastered on the wall with sticky tape stuck on by Becky and Sarah. These pieces were constructed by an artist and Jude. It’s visionary and it’s clear as a bell. The term “inclusion” is not lip service but an an active part of the vision, at the heart of the vision and at the heart of the day to day working practises. It makes sense.

The Literature Brochure is Upon Us All!

Lemn Sissay — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:20:19 +0000

Should we quarantine all immigrant words, search their pockets for possible explosive material? Maybe some words are, though not immigrants, housing an immigrant within. Shall we raid our sentences, interrogate our paragraphs, imprison large groups of words of latin extraction and question all words with an Indian Root just in case they are trying to subvert us.

If there's no PULSE there's no life!

Lemn Sissay — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:31:15 +0000

Coincidentally, tomorrow is the deadline for input into the next literature brochure for January to March 2007. All the events which I have been trying to organise are as yet unconfirmed and so will probably not go into the brochure. The brochure deadline seems to appear out of nowhere. In fact it does. I get the call from the literature department so late in the day that it is near impossible to catch the deadline and no assistance. I’m rolling with it and suspect that I am missing something here. I am meeting the literature officer on friday to ask how we can work more effectively together. As presently it is unsatisfactory in terms of communication.

The Interviewee, the writer and the reader.

Lemn Sissay — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:58:40 +0000

Did interview with Metaroar downstairs at EAT café with a very nice woman called Naomi Woddis who had the good grace to come see my work in progress at the Hammersmith Lyric this weekend as research. The interview was thoroughly enjoyable. That is no guarantee of how an interview will look when it goes to print. People seem often not to realise that there are three people in any given interview The subject, The Writer of the interview and the reader.

Cauliflower Cheese, Morrisey andThe London review of Books

Lemn Sissay — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 12:27:29 +0100

"It's in this small world that great things happen." he tells me "I mean how else would you get to say to the lead singer of a band after talking music 'hey want to come back to mine for some cauliflower cheese' and then go to the grants, do you remember the grants pub, for a beer." The singer was Morrisey. The last time I did a gig for Dave, with my then band Mick Hucknall was there in the audience. So i can truly say that Mick Hucknall has seen me live more times than I have seen him". Nathan McGough former manager of Happy Mondays pops in to see Dave. Nathan is the step son of Roger McGough but I know of him more through the Manchester scene. Apparently we’ve met before. We all sit and chat (Nathan catchs up with Dave) for a short while and then disperse.

Police officers charge the south bank

Lemn Sissay — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 19:58:11 +0100

A triumvirate of breathless police officers barge into the Riverside Rooms. I assume the position, hands on the wall legs apart and shout “I know my rights. Call my lawyer. It’s a set up”. A bemused officer walked past me and towards a more responsive individual from the Cape Farewell team. “It's my mobile phone” I shout at them“mine". They look at me and then continue discussing.

The Poetry Explorers

Lemn Sissay — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:38:42 +0100

At 4pm I do a reading for Poetry Explorers of the poetry library at The Spirit Level. There are two children for the first ten minutes and then five in total. I was so nervous about this reading. It is years since I have read for little little children. I am a bit rusty. Turns out the kids were enchanting and throughout the reading slipped off their air bean bags. I think they were performning for me rather than I for them. The reading ends.

The Desk has entered the building.

Lemn Sissay — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:06:26 +0100

I get along with the marketing department and the marketing department, apparently, get along with me. My growing familiarity leads to a frankness. Lemn we like you but not your photograph muses the luxuriously named Amelia La Fuente.. Helen her desk neighbour nods frowning. Familiarity, it is said, grows contempt! There comment is a bit like what someone said to me once I like you. There was a pause then I don’t care what your friends say.

Part of the IT CROWD.

Lemn Sissay — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 11:30:03 +0100

This is for the technology department at The South Bank. I was interviewed last month for Technology Guardian in a section called Celebrity Squares. So here it is just for you. The largest growth area for The Guardian is technology adn online and I would say the same for the BBC. Moe people read the Guardian online than in its paper form. Anyway - here's the interview.

My job is to require and be required

Lemn Sissay — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 11:23:32 +0100

In August The Independent published an interview. I want to share with all the workers what happened with the last question of that particular interview. The question was something like "if you were not a writer what would you be". My response was "I am absolutely what I was made to be so I find it very difficult if not impossible". The interviewer asked me to try "I can't" I replied. And after even more gentle cajoplling I said words to the effect of "I'd work in arts administration....maybe a poet who works in arts administration I suppose" I followed through with a garbled " I can't see myself being anything other than what I am". This is the background to the answer of the final question. Just so you know. Cause if you didn't know the background it gives a different impression. Here's the interview.

24 hour Party Person.

Lemn Sissay — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:36:49 +0100

Mid morning breakfast meeting Dave Haslam at The Malmaison. Later on in the day he will be interviewing individually all the surviving members of Joy Division who became New Order, for a documentary on the Joy Division for XFM. Dave is reading from his books - he’s published by fourth estate - at my event at The South Bank 24 hour Party People? on 9th November. It’s going to sell out so I suggest if you want to come buy quickly. There is limited availability. It'll be in the brand new venue The Spirit Level.

Why I Don't Hate White People.

Lemn Sissay — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:34:59 +0100

I am away and off site for this week, rehearsing in Manchester with director John McGrath for a show called Why I Don't Hate White People which is a performance of twenty minutes taster and attempt at stand up comedy written and performed by myself in November at The Hammersmith Lyric. I shall be bck on SOuth Bank soil in a new york minute. That's more like Monday 24th September.

24 hour Party People? At The South Bank

Lemn Sissay — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:37:03 +0100

Henry Normal is a poet, a millionaire poet at that and we used to tour together – in less fiscally abundant days - with guitarist, genius lyricist and now lead singer of a band called I am Kloot, Johnny Bramwell, then called Johnny Dangerously. They were special days which Henry remembers with pleasure. To now be sat with both the poet and film producer – he has made most of the hit Steve Coogan films – is a treat. Both of these ace writers shall be at The South Bank on November 9th.

A desk and a diamond

Lemn Sissay — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 20:36:25 +0100

I am being taken me underneath and into the substructure of The Royal Festival hall. It’s a storytellers series of giganormous Concrete Caves beneath the structure above. As Becky Shaw unlocks the doors a chill rushes out and the detritus of the entire structure raise a collective eyebrow as if resting actors waiting for the call, hearing the door open, again. It must look like this back stage of a doctor who set.

Abdullah and Corletta and The South Bank.

Lemn Sissay — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:45:56 +0100

Abdullah called me, to thank me for the tickets, as I was biking it across the bridge to the embankment. "I should go out more often" he said and then spoke enthusiastically about Orhan Pamuk at The QEH and the way he spoke both in Turkish and English. Abdullah felt included in the south bank. There's quite an artistic community in Clapton where I live - he saw many of his customers in the audience, who were suprised to see him from beyond the counter. Whereas this Turkish shopkeeper serves other people for his entire life, yesterday the south bank served him - art's for all. From the immigrant shop keeper to the casino worker. I must thank Martin Colthorpe, the Head of Literature. The ticket was waiting under Abdullah's name.

Technology at The SOuth Bank

Lemn Sissay — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:49:21 +0100

Still hot desking but speak to Becky Shaw who is putting together a desk for myself, and I think other artists in residence. It's at The Riverside Rooms. Fan –freakin– tastic. I go down to The Riverside Rooms with Becky and meet The Cape Farewell people based there. They seem cool. The moment I stepped in the place it felt right – pictures framed upon the walls, slightly dishevelled, a couple of leather couches. All I need is a desk a computer and a phone. Any two of those three will work. When I said Becky was putting them together I didn't mean that she was actually building them,

Blog Roll

Lemn Sissay — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:57:10 +0100

So this is the south bank blog. The first one. I swear to tell the spoof the whole spoof and nothing but the spoof. So help me. Speak your mind - or lose it. Alternatively it could be a place where I roll with it - a sort of blog roll. Who knows. Ramble ramble.Rumble rumble.