Please note that this event is not suitable for our English speaking only audiences, as no translation from Russian will be provided on this occasion. As part of our efforts to cater for our varied audiences and bring in a diversity of voices, some of our events now take an intimate chamber format and are conducted in Russian only.

How can a poem become a comic? What happens when verse is translated into images?

Roma Liberov invites audiences to part two of this three part talk, Pictures at an Exhibition: Poems and Comics. Drawing on his long-running project of comics inspired by his favourite poems – a series that resulted in 34 self-published zines and two exhibitions – Liberov explores the rich dialogue between poetry and sequential art.

The title Pictures at an Exhibition echoes Modest Mussorgsky's celebrated piano suite, inspired by a visit to an exhibition of works by his friend, the artist Viktor Hartmann. In a similar spirit, across two sessions in July and September, Liberov will reveal how he transforms both poems and poets' lives into visual narratives, inviting audiences to experience poetry not only as text but as a visual journey. Through examples from his own practice, he will examine how comics can illuminate the rhythms, emotions and imagery of poetry, and how the two art forms enrich one another in unexpected ways.

Whether you are a reader of poetry, a comics enthusiast, an artist, or simply curious about the possibilities of visual storytelling, these talks offer a rare insight into the meeting point of literature and illustration.

Roma Liberov is the CEO of WE EXIST! FOUNDATION, a film director, producer and screenwriter, known for his innovative documentary films that blend animation, puppetry, and archival materials to bring Russian literary figures to life. Through his work, Liberov has dedicated himself to preserving and reimagining Russian literary heritage for contemporary audiences. Liberov regularly lectures internationally, captivating audiences with his ability to make classic authors speak in a fresh, urgent, and deeply personal voice.

5a Bloomsbury Square London WC1A 2TA