Collaborating closely with the author, just as a dancer works with the rhythm of the music: Highlighting Homer's Epic Poems
Welsh Artist Clive Hicks-Jenkins Illustrates Homer's Works for The Folio Society
Clive Hicks-Jenkins, a Welsh artist, has recently completed illustrating Homer's epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey, for The Folio Society. This project marks a significant milestone in Hicks-Jenkins's career, which began in his forties when he returned to his great love of poetry and started drawing and painting.
Hicks-Jenkins's early work in art and illustration was met with more success than he had ever imagined. His husband, historian and curator Peter Wakelin, played a significant role in encouraging him to pursue his art and illustration professionally. The name of the historian and curator who initially inspired Hicks-Jenkins to work as an artist and illustrator is David Hurn.
In his work, Hicks-Jenkins approaches illustration as creating images that feel like 'little cracks between paving stones', providing moments of thought between the words. For him, illustration is a means of collaborating with authors, much like dance. He compares illustration to dance, viewing it as a process that requires a delicate balance between the author's vision and his own artistic interpretation.
Hicks-Jenkins used Emily Wilson's translations for his illustrations, finding them to bring a fresh perspective to the works. He focuses on subtle details rather than grand-stand views of battles, creating intricate and thought-provoking images that complement Wilson's translations.
The Folio Society initially approached Hicks-Jenkins to illustrate the works of the Greek poet, and he was excited to learn it would be both The Iliad and The Odyssey. Hicks-Jenkins had access to the manuscripts as they were being written by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, providing him with a unique opportunity to delve into the heart of these ancient stories.
A limited edition of 'The Iliad and The Odyssey' translated by Emily Wilson and illustrated by Clive Hicks-Jenkins is available through The Folio Society for £700. This exquisite edition is a testament to Hicks-Jenkins's talent and his ability to bring these timeless stories to life through his illustrations.
Meanwhile, Carla Passino, the Arts & Antiques editor for the platform, has a deep appreciation for Hicks-Jenkins's work. Passino, who finds the English weather more congenial than her native country's sunshine, has covered heritage, conservation, history, and property stories as a freelance journalist. Her musical taste, much like Hicks-Jenkins, remains rooted in the past, with a preference for composers before the 20th century.
In contrast, Hicks-Jenkins's theatrical background was a well-kept secret in his early days as an artist and illustrator. He used to hide his past as a choreographer and stage director, fearing he would be poorly judged. However, as his reputation grew, it became increasingly difficult to keep his performing-arts past a secret. Today, Hicks-Jenkins's work stands as a testament to his versatility and his ability to excel in multiple creative fields.
