Spomenik

“Strategic juxtaposition and explicit to implicit comparisons are key to discerning the layers of beauty and meaning in this anthology of photographs and poems. Spomeniks are not just post-crisis testaments to humanity’s failings and warring brutality but semaphores of art signifying both hope and tragedy against the ever-rising fog of time and forgetfulness. Against Marc Nair’s images which strike that usual balance between the encroachment of shadows and surfaces of light, black and white, the almost laughable bustle of humdrum activity and an impending demolishment, the camera of his verse captures precisely the hushed poignancy of time’s indifference: elevators in Belgrade failing to rise, power tripping, strangers cheering at "a giant screen that dwarves everyone", pebbles disappearing into dusk, etc. Like spomeniks themselves, the poems strive ambitiously to mark our acknowledgement of impermanence and our undying attempt to heal from the past.”
—Cyril Wong, poet and fictionist

“This is Marc Nair in his creative element, meditating on the image both in photography and with poetry. The experience of this collection is like getting to take a walk with him and being inside his mind as he explores these spaces with you.”
—Pooja Nansi, poet and educator

Marc Nair (b.1981) is a poet and photographer from Singapore. He is a recipient of the 2016 Young Artist Award. He has performed spoken word in solo and group performances for fifteen years in more than ten countries and has represented Singapore in international poetry slam competitions. Marc has published six solo volumes of poetry and has released another three collections in collaboration with visual artists, photographers and graphic artists.

Marc was the 2016-17 NTU-NAC National Writer in Residence and is the co-founder of Mackerel, a culture magazine. He has released two spoken word albums with his band, Neon and Wonder, and has collaborated with well-known Singapore musicians such as Bani Haykal, weish and Tim De Cotta on numerous live performances. He has also worked with Lee Kin Mun, aka mrbrown, on the mrbrown show for over a decade, writing satirical audio and video sketches and songs.

Marc’s list of authored publications include Vital Possessions (2018), Auguries of Modern Innocence (2018), Intersection (2017), Spomenik (2016), The Poet of Unlove (2015), Animal City (2014), Postal Code (2013), Chai: Travel Poems (2010), Along The Yellow Line (2007).

www.marcnair.com | www.mackerel.life