The Art Gallery of NSW and Red Room Poetry invited six poets to respond creatively to the artworks in Shadow catchers, an exhibition of photographs and moving image from the Gallery’s collection.
Joelistic’s All of the lights is a response to Jacky Redgate’s Light Throw (Mirrors) #1 2009.
All of the lights
All of the lights
All of the lines
All of the liars
All of the shadows
All of the shapes
All of the sirens
All of the minutes
All of the merits
All your admirers
Let me take you on a tour of a house made of mirrors
You are not at all who you thought you were
You used to write love letters now you print brochures
If old you had of knew me
Old me would not have liked you
What a limp handshake you have
I used to share my tunnel with a spider
Another photo opportunity with a fake backdrop
See them cuddle up to the camera like that lens is god
This is my Cis gendered big send off under golden showers
Sometimes I just say stuff
Then shoot up the place with an information sawn off
Get me to the part where there’s no more secrets
Get me to the part where it becomes fine art
I am pre-internet innocent
And when the light shines, just so
I am reminded of the nature of loss
More zeight than gheist
And there’s no fast forward
And I don’t know much but I do know this
I’ma hold on to you in the storm
I’ma hold on to you in the storm

Jacky Redgate Light Throw (Mirrors) #1 from the series Light Throw (Mirrors) 2009, printed 2011. Art Gallery of New South Wales. Purchased with funds provided by the Photography Collection Benefactors’ Program 2011 © Jacky Redgate

Joelistics
Joelistics is a rapper, writer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer.
Poetic reflections is produced in collaboration with Red Room Poetry
With thanks to Together In Art supporter: Presenting Partner of the AGNSW Contemporary Galleries UBS