PJ Harvey was recently invited to read a selection of Don Van Vliet’s poetry at Michael Werner Gallery in London, as part of an exhibition of his paintings, Don Van Vliet: Standing on One Hand, from the 1980s and 1990s. The exhibition runs until February 17th.
The artist, also known by the stage name Captain Beefheart, has had a significant impact on PJ Harvey’s own music and art.
Polly says, “Thank you to the Michael Werner Gallery for inviting me to read Don’s poems. It was a privilege to be able to give life to his words whilst standing amongst his paintings. Thanks also to Jan Van Vliet who helped me prepare for the reading, and for sending me a poem Don had written for me in 2001, called ‘Man Can’t Anticipate Cat’, which I read at the end of the night.”
Don Van Vliet – “Standing on One Hand”, 1994 Oil on linen.
© The Estate of Don Van Vliet. Courtesy Michael Werner Gallery, New York and London.