Poetry / Martin Rieser
Martin Rieser’s ‘reverse ekphrasis’ poetry collection explores the reliable narrative in a world of AI
Martin Rieser is an influential multidisciplinary artist, poet and retired professor of digital creativity, whose rich and varied career and practice has included teaching and lecturing positions at London Metropolitan University, UWE Bristol, Napier University, Bath Spa University and De Montfort University.
Although his background is in printmaking, Rieser’s passion for the digital and interactive arts space is longstanding, and is something he is excited to bring into other facets of his work.
His new poetry collection Apocrypha is an exploration of the idea of the reliable narrative, specifically in the age of AI.
is needed now More than ever
Apocrypha – photo: Martin Rieser
His approach to making it has been what he calls a “reverse ekphrasis”; in other words a manipulation of the literary device in which a poet describes, in great detail, a piece of visual art. Here, Rieser reverses that trope, using AI to create images inspired by his poems.
The images generated are shown alongside the poems, each one of which is written about a particular historical figure – be they from literature, science, art, theology, aeronautics or warfare.
Bob Walton provides the Foreword for Apocrypha, and in doing so, calls on the reader to ask “where does truth lie?”, a question that pervades the entire collection.
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“At a time when many artists might feel, at the very least, wary of AI” he says, “it’s a clever and bold initiative if you possess Rieser’s knowledge and skills.
“But it brings heft to the questions raised by the pamphlet’s theme: how true are the apocryphal stories passed down through history? When a writer seeks to enter and express another person’s mind and feelings, how truthful can they be? How accurate are AI-generated images?”
Bristol 24/7 is pleased to one of Rieser’s poems in full, below, along with the image it inspired.
The Execution of Marshall Ney, 1815
The Luxembourg was never so green, nor his heart so full.
He lost five horses in the charge at Waterloo,
but death avoided him, though bullets spat volleys.
He held the bridge at Kovno,
as they fell like forests, and swarms
of grapeshot came humming past.
Soon the barrels will level, balls breach
coat and shirt to find his heart;
beating its hundred-battle tattoo.
Steady steps from here to the wall:
bird song all around, squad embarrassed,
shifting their feet, eyes to the ground.
This is how a Marshall of France should die:
raised head, clear eyes,
swallows swooping, and smoke drifting through.
“Soldiers, when I give the command to fire,
fire straight at my heart.
Wait for the order.
It will be my last to you.”
AI-generated image from Martin Rieser, The Execution of Marshall Ney, 1815, Apocrypha (2026) – photo: courtesy Martin Rieser
Apocrypha: Unreliable Narratives by Martin Rieser, is available now. Follow Martin @riem1.
Main photo: courtesy Martin Rieser (AI generated image of Samuel Colt, ‘The Peacemaker’)
Read next:
- Review: Lyra – Bristol Poetry Festival; opening weekend – ‘sparkling with intensity and intrigue’
- Suzannah V. Evans publishes acclaimed debut poetry collection: ‘Under the Blue’
- Matt Gilbert publishes ‘Street Sailing’, a Bristol-inflected poetry collection
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