Poet Ella Frears publishes poem inspired by Charlie Prodger's 'Volcano Snake Sun, September' drawing

Poet Ella Frears has written a new poem titled 'Volcano Snake Sun, September' in response to Charlie Prodger's 2024 pencil-and-pastel work of the same name. The poem appears in ArtReview's ongoing series featuring original poetry inspired by contemporary art. Frears' work explores themes of observation, distance, and connection, referencing garden encounters, swimming, and workshop interactions. The poem draws inspiration from Prodger's drawing, which depicts nature postcards arranged on a shelf with window shadows and dappled light, containing subtle dramatic elements like a breaking mountain peak and a coiled snake. This marks a departure from Prodger's more conceptual Turner Prize-winning work. Ella Frears is a London-based poet whose 2020 collection 'Shine, Darling' was shortlisted for both the Forward Prize and T.S. Eliot Prize. Her 2024 hybrid work 'Goodlord' was also Forward Prize-shortlisted. She hosts the chat and music show 'Tears for Frears' on Soho Radio. The publication continues ArtReview's New Poems series, which commissions poets to create work responding to contemporary visual art.