Collected Poems of a Painter

In later life, while living in London, George Claessen returned to poetry, often interrogating the same metaphysical themes he explored in his abstracts. The fruits of these endeavours resulted in a number of volumes, including, Poems of a Painter published in 1967, Poems about Nothing (1981), Collected Poems, (1995) and subsequent inclusion in various poetry anthologies.

Describing his desire to use poetry as a creative alternative to his visual artistic work, he memorably said that it was, '...the outcome of an urge for expression in another form - a phenomenon not uncommon in painters, just as the same would and does apply in reverse to essential poets'.

In 1928, George Claessen's future as a writer and poet was already showing great promise. Aged nineteen, he had just won a prestigious poetry prize in a national Sri Lankan newspaper. That led to writing stories and articles for various pub-lications. It seemed as though his desired vocation was assured until the birthday gift of a paintbox changed the course of his life. During a temporary job as a night watchman stationed at the edge of a jungle, he began painting to pass the time. By the end of his stint he was irrevocably hooked. In the early 40s, George was one of the founding members of a Sri Lankan art group, which was based in Colombo and was spearheaded by Lionel Wendt. Known as The '43 Group, this movement would become renowned as the first modernist art collective in South Asia. By the end of the decade, his path as an artist eventually drew him to London. His painting became increasingly abstract. By the 50s he was exhibiting internationally, notably at the Venice Biennale in 1956, and in 1959 he won first prize at the São Paulo Biennale.

Irina Johnstone is a lyricist, dramatist, artist and gallerist. Her writings include poetic works which formed the lyrics for three critically acclaimed albums by the British group Thirsty: Thirsty, released in 2014; Albatross, released in 2016; and Nomad, released in 2018. Her dramatic work, Oedipus.Complex, is being adapted for a musical play. Irina is the owner of Three Highgate, an art gallery and creative hub in Highgate, where she is currently curating a programme of art exhibitions and writing and poetry events.

Alistair Hicks is a writer and an art curator. He recently curated Paula Rego shows at the Kestner Gesellschaft in Hanover, and the Pera Museum in Istanbul. Previously, he was a Senior Curator at Deutsche Bank. Alistair is the author of The Global Art Compass: New Directions in 21st Century Art (2014), Urban Mirrors - Reflections from the Artists of Istanbul (2022), Art Works: British and German Contemporary Art, 1960-2000 (2001), New British Art in the Saatchi Gallery (1989), and The School of London: The Resurgence of Contemporary Painting (1989). He has also written as an art critic and contributor for leading publications, including The Times and Financial Times newspapers and The Spectator, Apollo and Frieze magazines, among others.