Being a visual artist, I find titling art work might be the hardest or the easiest thing to do and I get a sense that other artist feel the same way. There's probably over millions of paintings, sculptures, videos, etc. that are titled Untitled.
Untitled because they never came up with a title that was good enough or because anything else might have taken aways from the integrity of the work, etc.
Reasons are plenty as to why each piece is entitled, Untitled, but I, myself have not seen a piece called, As Yet Untitled. It's usually assumed by most that an untitled piece is presumably as of yet untitled...
I was intrigued by Hannibal Tabu's name because as an artist, a name like that cannot be any more bad ass. His name just grabs the visceral psyche of a reader and shakes one out even before you get to his poem...
Tabu sings sweet interludes of worshipping the yoni in As Yet Untitled, speaking praise of curves and apricot lips. At first, I saw Tabu's work to be over indulgent and hyperbolic, but then I came into some realizations: Firstly, I'm probably too much of a cynic and secondly, the poem touches base on mankind's humility...
"I am a man longing to attend perfection."
"I am a man longing for synchronicity."
Focusing on the point of humility, I saw that human beings just need foundations and structural integrity for comfort and most importantly an omnipotent untouchable figure that motivates one into becoming a "moral" being. Isn't that a big factor on why religion is so popular with the human race? Or am trying to tackle a notion, too lofty from a love poem that celebrates light and rhapsody?
On a lighter note, I was so enthused by Tabu's name I decided to read more about him. He's pretty active on the internet and I happened upon his site: The Operative Network (official website for hannibal tabu)
I'm just hoping he didn't pay who ever designed his website because the sites design aesthetics reeks of someone who just discovered html in 2001 and went crazy with his first freelance gig...
He's an interesting figure that fits into the eclectic and diverse Voices from Leimert Park anthology seamlessly. I also took a look at his twitter and went to bed knowing that on Friday night he "Loved DJing the Boyz 2 Men/Babyface/En Vogue concert, but I'm worn out like new school clothes. I could use a BJ & a nap, but work calls."
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ReplyDelete"Untitled because they never came up with a title that was good enough or because anything else might have taken away from the integrity of the work, etc."<<< Yes. I swear it bothers me so much to title my poetry, I've just stopped doing it.
ReplyDeleteAlso...the Tabu BJ reference,lmao. I'm entertained...and a bit disturbed.
Anyway, I think it's really interesting that you parsed out such a deep religious theory/moral integrity analysis from this poem. Can you go a little deeper into how the two lines you highlighted signify that for you?
His tone is something to be explored. He is making these charged statements, that don't have finesse, so we have to rely on mixing language with posture.
ReplyDeleteI am glad he has more than one piece
Kind of wish i never saw his website
has fake emcee all over it
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"Kind of wish i never saw his website
ReplyDeletehas fake emcee all over it"
Haha, Elmaz! Me too... Me too... The design makes me cringe.
Yes. I think that in some ways his titles are some of the stronger lyrical moments of his writing. And I really feel your analysis of the as yet piece of the untitled title. It opens up motion and temporal continuity - breaks art from the myth of static moment and shows it as a continued development.
ReplyDeleteThat twitter line about the bj helps. I found myself unable to write about Tabu's work feeling really turned off by a kind masculinism that make me want to take a few showers. While praising the body of a woman in his as yet untitled, it is really a return to his own performance of the politically aware, woman-living to be praised man. In this erotic love poem I actually saw very little of the woman, and much more of Tabu's own ego. Posturing. Sorry to offend those who loved his work.
The attention the the title "As Yet Untitled" seems well placed. It's extremely common to see a piece called "Untitled" and so to name the work "As Yet Untitled" is somewhat startling and draws attention. At the same time, it's not distracting because it remains vague enough that it doesn't add what might be heavy and deliberate meaning. I like that you added the tweet--it's flippant nature speaks to Tabu's work and the way he conceptualizes women and his life.
ReplyDelete