Shape Of My Heart (Art & Poetry) [Hardcover]

Sting (Author), Pablo Picasso (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Art & Poetry | Publication Date: September 1, 1998

Shape of My Heart marries the hautning lyrics of pop icon Sting with the mesmerizing images of Pablo Picasso, perhaps the greatest artist of the twentieth century. The result is a scintillating look at how the forces of love and desire will enrich and complicate life.

Sting's lyrics from his amazing song echo the feelings of an entire generation. Here is a true love song from the 1990s, full of ambiguities, self-doubt, hope, and mysticism. In Sting's vision, we discover that the truth of the heart is often masked by forces beyond our control. These are words that reverberate with feeling, much like the images painted by the ever controversial Picasso.

Both these artists share the ability to make the world see itself in a new light. Picasso painted his subjects--particularly the women he loved--unlike any artist before or after him, and the world was changed because of his vision. In a similar way, the complexity of Sting's words elevate and expand popular music into previously uncharted territory.

Together, these words and images--like all messages from the heart--will make the perfect gift of love.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"I know that the spades are swords of a soldier / I know that the clubs are weapons of war / I know that diamonds mean money for this art / But that's not the shape of my heart." So goes the chorus of Shape of My Heart, lyrics composed and sung by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Sting. In this lovely, oversized book, Sting's words are spread across the pages and complemented with paintings by the visionary artist Pablo Picasso. This treatment allows for a leisurely and thoughtful contemplation of both the poetry and the artwork, as the words and images play with and against each other, sparking readers' imaginations. The combination is an evocative and powerful one, perhaps because both artists are known for opening minds and hearts--shedding fresh, revealing light on what we thought we already understood completely. --Brangien Davis

Review

Shape Of My Heart
-- Table of Poems from Poem Finder®

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Welcome Books; 1st Edition. edition (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0941807207
• ISBN-13: 978-0941807203
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 0.4 x 11.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #311,140 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars He doesn't play for respect,, April 1, 2000

By 

Daniel - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shape Of My Heart (Art & Poetry) (Hardcover)

he plays for us all. Sting's song is a haunting, beautifully composed melody from one of the most intelligent song-writers of contemporary times; beautifully if not always ideally complemented by Picasso's artwork. The marriage of poetry and art was slightly more successful in the case of Matisse and Leonard Cohen (Dance Me To The End of Love), and in the case of Cummings and Chagall (May I Feel? Said He), but it is still of a very high standard. Had I not already experienced the other two books, I would certainly have believed that this was the best of its type. The layout and font is as always, perfectly chosen, and the book is a great pleasure to look at, like all the books in this series. It is a must-buy by any standard, anyhow! A friend tells me that this is the song played in the film "Leon", so there's a film which I must watch in the future! I hope that everyone who enjoyed this book goes on to find the rest of the books in this sequence, and discovers what a really good combination of words and images can be like.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sting Sees Picasso, March 27, 2000

By 

"ptownrocker" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shape Of My Heart (Art & Poetry) (Hardcover)

The beautifully printed and organized "Shape of My Heart" is a tribute both to the allusive, poetic strength of Sting's writing, and the enigmatic, evocative art of Pablo Picasso. The Picasso paintings follow the lines of the Sting song "Shape of My Heart," which can be heard on his album Ten Summoner's Tales. Listening to this song while flipping through the book is truly a beautiful and moving experience, and one of the few times I know of that visual arts and music truly come together. This would make a great gift for a friend, either artist or musician or poet; as well as something for yourself, for the moments when you're wondering what the shape of your heart is. Melancholy, brooding perhaps, but also profoundly affirming, this is an effective piece of art as well as literature.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Creative Collaboration, November 12, 2002

By 

Daniel R. Martin (Grand Haven, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shape Of My Heart (Art & Poetry) (Hardcover)

Okay, so Sting and Picasso didn't really collaborate together on this, but the combination of Sting's lovely lyrics and Picasso's abstract art results in an absolute treasure of a book. This beautiful book is a wonderful way to appreciate (or be introduced to) the work of two diverse artists. In this context, Sting's lyrics really demonstrate their worth as poetry.

Parents beware, however, that some of the art work contains some of Picasso's dark images and some nudity. It may not be something you leave on the coffee table, though it is a beautiful book.

The Art and Poetry Series is a great idea, well executed. I recommend picking up other titles in the series.