Barcelona Poetry Brothel

by Diambra Mariani and Francesco Mion All the pictures were taken in 2015 and 2016 in Barcelona, during events organized by Prostibulo Poetico Barcelona. "The Poetry Brothel is a unique and immersive poetry event that takes poetry outside classrooms and lecture halls and places it in the lush interiors of a bordello. Based in concept on the fin-de-siecle bordellos in New Orleans and Paris, many of which functioned as safe havens for fledgling, avant-garde artists, The Poetry Brothel's "Madame" presents a rotating cast of poets as "whores," each operating within a carefully constructed character, who impart their work in public readings, spontaneous eruptions of poetry, and most distinctly, as purveyors of private, one-on-one poetry readings in back rooms. For a small fee, all of the "poetry whores" are available for these sequestered readings at any time during the event. Poets performing at the Brothel are male and female, emerging and established, local and international, and they engage audiences in an immersive experience that flows seamlessly through the Brothel's public spaces into its private poetry readings. The Poetry Brothel offers access to a part of the artistic process that was previously restricted to individuals in already intimate relationships." (from www.thepoetrybrothel.com)