In the video, Reines read from ‘A Sand Book’ (2019) –  a poetry collection in twelve parts, which “explores the negative space of what is happening to language and to consciousness in our strange and desperate times.” ‘A Sand Book’ was longlisted for the 2019 National Book Award in Poetry and was widely praised. The New York Times described it with the words: “Her writing is queer and raunchy, raw and occult, seemingly never pulling away from her deepest vulnerabilities. Yet Reines simultaneously maintains a feeling of epic poetry, of ancient intention.”

Ariana Reines (b. 1982) is an award-winning American poet, playwright, performance artist, and translator. Her books of poetry include ‘The Cow’ (2006), ‘Coeur de Lion’ (2007), ‘Mercury’ (2011), ‘Thursday’ (2012) and ‘A Sand Book’ (2019). She is also the author of the Obie-winning play ‘Telephone’ (2009). Reines participated in the 2014 Whitney Biennial as a member of Semiotext(e) and has created performances and art projects for the Whitney Museum, the Guggenheim and more.

The poetry reading was recorded in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October 2018.

Camera: Miguel de Zuviría & Nicanor Montes

Sound: Tomás Guiñazú

Produced by Christian Lund

Edited by Roxanne Bagheshirin Lærkesen

Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2020

Supported by Nordea-fonden