Meet Khôra, a dynamic online arts space produced in collaboration with groundbreaking author Lidia Yuknavitch’s Corporeal Writing. Plato described khôra as a “formless interval, alike to a non-being,” and in that spirit, Khôra is committed to writers and artists who explore the creative by and through an ever-evolving and expansive lens. We are honored to showcase the work of polyphonic, multi-genre writers and artists.
Every month, Khôra will publish new work from a curated team of writers and artists. When you subscribe for free, you’ll receive issue highlights straight to your inbox (no one will be turned away due to lack of funds). Subscribers will also receive extra goodies like access to our Zoom happy hour, occasional speaker series, subscriber-only posts, virtual care packages, and more to come. The extras might take a month or so to get going... and in the meantime, we think you’ll love what you read!
Click here to read Khôra.
Issue 1 Highlights
In every issue of Khôra, we will feature the work of a curated team of four writers and four artists. This team will change every four months. In addition, we feature the work of one groundbreaking writer and one visual artist.
Here’s what we’re excited about in Issue 1:
Tug by Diana Khoi Nguyen
Poet and multimedia artist Diana Khoi Nguyen is the featured writer for Khôra’s inaugural issue. She is the author of Ghost Of, which was selected by Terrance Hayes for the Omnidawn Open Contest in 2018. Among her many awards, Diana was also a finalist for the National Book Award and L.A. Times Book Prize. Her exquisite piece, Tug, is made of both visual and written texts, and is on display as a gallery of four images.
Read Tug.
Parasites in Paradise by Kirin Khan / artwork by Sara Rahbar
“Her mouth opens at sunrise. A giant centipede crawls out and writhes down the path to the street, along the curb; its legs brush against the shoe of a boyfriend waiting in line. This one. Erik #5. The line runs around the block and then some, all the boyfriends the same, the Aarons, the Mikes, a preponderance of Eriks, all hoping to get in. Her eyes are open, and cold watery sunlight beams through…”
Nafsi! Nafsi! by Sagirah Shahid / artwork by M. Florine Démosthène
“In remembrance of George Floyd / Minneapolis, I am learning there is no intercession from flames or any ash bound cinder celebrating the mural before the man, a rain-soaked teddy bear wilts into a barrage of dying chrysanthemums, azaleas, sunflower sprouts flung into sawed down…”
Read Nafsi! Nafsi!
A Seed Doesn’t Choose Where it Falls by Grace Loh Prasad / artwork by Christa David
“Her mother planted the bathtub-sized flower bed with watermelon-red begonias, bright yellow and magenta snapdragons, and dark orange marigolds. But the flowers she treasured most of all she kept inside on the windowsill—delicate African violets, in a deep jewel-like color that reminded her of velvet. What does a child know about growing?”
Read A Seed Doesn’t Choose Where it Falls.
How we are coded: Inhabiting the endnotes by Shane Rowlands / artwork by Lori Lorion
“Warning: Statistical table ahead. Kathunk! I hear hearts drop; I know we are story-telling creatures. But the nation crunches (us to) numbers. Dear reader, stay with me…”
Read How we are coded: Inhabiting the endnotes.
Raíces (Roots) by Saskia Jordá
Featured artist Saskia Jordá was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and works with site-specific installations, drawings, and performances that map the tension between retaining one's identity and assimilating a foreign persona. We invited Saskia Jordá to offer some background about the inspiration behind Raíces (Roots) and to share a piece of music that speaks to her in relation to this work.
Read Raíces (Roots).
October 2020 / Issue 2
Khôra will be back next month.
In the meantime, if you’re excited about Khôra, please share the love!
Swim around in Khôra.
Thanks in advance,
and with our galactic gratitude,
Leigh Hopkins and the Corporeal Writing Team
I am so grateful. In tears. This. This community. So necessary for so many. I'm already filling up. Thank you. - Rebecca
I'm eager to see this! Thank you Lidia and CW