Concrete Poetry
具体詩／コンクリート・ポエトリー / 1950s–1970s / Layout / Experimental Typography
Treats the placement, repetition, blank space and sound of words as the poem itself, not only what they mean.
At a glance
Visual cues
- Repeated words
- Shapes made of letters
- Large blanks
- Dismantled reading order
Best used for
- Print pieces where a few words carry the reading speed and the pauses
- Exhibitions and wall works that take language itself as the subject
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Dictionary entry
- Type
- One face at one size, emphasis from position and repetition only
- Composition
- Place words on a grid so reading can start from any direction
- Material
- White paper and one black ink, quality carried by register and margin
- Caution
- When making a shape comes first, the meaning of the words stops answering their position, and the piece is only letters poured into a picture.
- Further study
- Eugen Gomringer / Dieter Roth / Augusto de Campos
Related entries
- Calligram (カリグラム)Shared effects: Play / Calm.Compare Concrete Poetry and Calligram
- Swiss Punk Typography (スイス・パンク・タイポグラフィ)Same Experimental Typography lineage.Compare Concrete Poetry and Swiss Punk Typography
Often confused with
More from Experimental Typography
Continue through styles in the same Experimental Typography family, prioritised by shared effects.
- Lettrism (レトリスム)Shared effects: Rebellion.
- Creacionismo (クレアシオニスモ)Shared effects: Calm.
- The New Typography (ニュー・タイポグラフィ)
Browse all Experimental Typography entries
Cite this entry
The dictionary is meant to be linked to. Take whichever form fits where you are writing.
- Link
- https://indexstyle.org/styles/concrete-poetry
- Markdown
- [Concrete Poetry — IndexStyle](https://indexstyle.org/styles/concrete-poetry)
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- <a href="https://indexstyle.org/styles/concrete-poetry">Concrete Poetry — IndexStyle</a>