Customer Reviews

Shape Of My Heart (Art & Poetry)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

What a great blend of poetry and art. I loved both and will have on my coffee table for many years to come.

I bought this book for a friend of mine. It was a perfect mix of art and words. The Picasso's are perfect for the lyrics. I have a few of these books and they are nice for any art lvoer's collection.

He deals the cards as a meditation.
And those he plays never suspect
He doesn't play for the money he wins
He doesn't play for respect
He deals the cards to find the answer
The sacred geometry of chance
The hidden law of a probable outcome
The numbers lead a dance

(My favorite lines)
He doesn't play for the money he wins
He doesn't play for respect
He deals the cards to find the answer

Chorus

I know that the spades are swords of a soldier
I know the clubs are weapons of war
I now that diamonds mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart

(My favorite lines)
He may play the jack of diamonds
He may lay the queen of spades
He may conceal a king in his hand
While the memory of it fades...

Repeat Chorus

And if I told that I loved you
You'd maybe think there's something wrong
I'm not a man of too many faces
The mask I wear is one
Those who speak know nothing
And find out to their cost
Like those who curse their luck in too many places
And those who fear are lost

Repeat Chorus

But that's not the shape of my heart. The End.

~~~ I am seeing a card game used as a metaphor of life, fate and love. We are seduced with potential and have only to use our imagination to read between its lines. We are left with many plausible interpretations. I myself imagine few male artists can put their Queens or lovers ahead of their art.

Eventually, as time goes by time takes their talent away and they are left with only memories of what could have been had they chose love instead of art. It is too bad there is no guarantee on relationships either. I think we should all do what makes us happy when it comes to mixing art and love. What do you think?

This book has befriended me. I love it. I've followed both these artists for some time. I am a student of Ekphrasis Poetry myself having written many of my poems in response to Picasso's work. You might even call this kind of poetry a peek into the conversation between the song and the painting. Smooth and easy read. Beautiful imagery. Five Stars for Amazon.

By Joyce White
Sculpting the Heart Book Reviews

It is clear that Sting loves Picasso's Art but this book is not but a small step in the very long path trought the human heart that the two atrists shared in so many points.
Just a blink: a little thing that doesn't show the glory of Sting and Picasso. Quite an artificial mirror.
Let's continue searching, we will find a much greater treasure.