Zero-on Seiichi Niikuni

stéphane mallarmé s un coup de dés

niikuni first present concept of visual , aural poetry in 1963 in zero-on (0音). work divided 2 parts, first half consisting of calligraphic poetry , second half being aural poetry. note calling readers read poems aloud accompanied first half.

the calligraphic poetry in first half constructed of kanji of varying sizes, hiragana , katakana characters, placed on pages special emphasis on spatiality created, being close experiment in visual poetry. aural poetry in second half was, name implies, poetry listening, exemplified public performance of reading aloud of poems in december 1963. experiment witnessed composer yasunao tone among others.

the works in zero-on, of calligraphic poetry, created out of spatially emphasized characters, thought influenced french poet stéphane mallarmé s un coup de dés. influences john cage , twelve-tone music noted.

vinholes advocated importance of audio niikuni, after niikuni started actively experiment aural poetry. @ same time, reel reel audio technology , phototypesetting developed, , seen have had effect on style of expression in zero-on , later works.