The Stories Under Our Feet are ephemeral light and text artworks trimming the edges of the Manchester City Library benches. Short observational poems drawing on changing weather and seasons to create moments of contemplation for people walking by or sitting on the benches. Supported using public funding by Arts Council England and first exhibited at Enlighten Manchester Festival of Light and Sound Art 2015. Photos by John Lynch.
‘The Stories Under Our Feet (Poetry Benches)’ was a new iteration of the ongoing series of bench poetry by Elisa Artesero in 2020. Commissioned as part of Canary Wharf’s ‘Connected by Light’ festival in London.A poetry trail across Jubilee Park is created by ephemeral shadows of text cast out from underneath the benches. Each cluster of benches form micro poems of a larger poem across the site. These dream-like poems encourage moments of contemplation, connection, and wonder. Photos by Elisa Artesero