'Some people say when you’re bored, that’s when you’re most creative.'
Nothing Superfluous is the second poem the Building Centre has published of the collection LionHeart read at an event inspired by the series of residencies he carried out with architects and designers, as well as the Building Centre.
'Everyone has their own subjective view of what they need to facilitate a sense of wellbeing.'
For the last two years LionHeart has been exploring architects’ approach to design in order to affect how we feel in spaces. Through a number of residencies, LionHeart has written is a series of poems intended to make built environment professionals and the public reflect on our relationship with our spaces and architecture.
Nothing Superfluous
A poem by LionHeart, inspired by Abderrahim at PLP Architects
Don’t particularly like
poetry. It holds too much
in a line. In a meaning.
Weirdly, the aesthetics
of prisons, appeals
to me. The cell.
It’s quite interesting
being void of distractions.
Enables boredom.
Some people say
when you’re bored, that’s
when you’re most creative.
In Korea, there are prisons
which people can book into
over the weekend.
It’s like a hotel, you choose
to hand in all of your– stuff.
Separated from any socially
accepted version of yourself,
and this, is all you need. Nothing
else matters. The devil’s in the
details, and there aren’t any here.
When your encounter with a space
reminds you of your history
reminds you of something–
other than the space itself–
there’s poetry in it.
I don’t particularly like
poetry though. It holds
too much in a line. In a cell.
My feelings, held
captive. Null and void,
of any distractions.
LionHeart is a TEDx speaker, award winning poet and international spoken word performer. He is also the author of debut poetry collection 'The Mute's Rebellion', excavating memories of social anxiety, upbringing, emotional vulnerability and more. Thanks to the Arts Council England's DYCP which funded various residencies this year for this research.
