The University of South Australia has initiated “Invisible Walls”, a new literary exchange for Australian and Korean poets.

Throughout the coming two years, 10 Australian poets will be paired with 10 Korean poets, asking them to write a series of collaborative responses (poems, letters, ephemera, etc.), so as to exchange thoughts relating to land, place, culture, and history (and the manner in which these exert force over the emergence of contemporary modes).

Stage One of this project is now open, and the organisers are seeking a representative cross-section of Australian poetry in all its complex diversity. Five Australian poets will be paired with five Korean poets. Any poet aged 18 years or over, who is currently residing in Australia or who holds Australian citizenship, is eligible and encouraged to apply.

Between April and September 2022, six hour-long Zoom-based conversations will take place between each of the five pairs of poets. These conversations will be professionally interpreted. Participants are expected to prepare for these six online engagements, and to follow up by writing a suite of texts based on their exchanges.

Each poet in the project will commit to writing approximately 10 poems (or poem-equivalents), delivering these by the end of September 2022.

Each of the five Australian poets selected will receive an honorarium (AU$600).

To request further information and/or an application form, please contact Aden Burg via email (burad004@mymail.unisa.edu.au).