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| MIEL logo |
You may already have noticed that we, Rabbits, like the written word just as much as we like carrots. We like it in books, on laptops, in the streets. And then one day we meet a stranger who loves words just as much as we do. That stranger is Éireann Lorsung, American writer and poet (and so much more), who started up a small press in Ghent called MIEL, together with publisher Jonathan Vanhaelst. Their website describes the MIEL mission as "difficult, interesting, intelligent, deeply felt supplies for readers and writers". How could we not want to know more about that?
ROSIE & THE RABBITS: Where does the name MIEL come from?
Éireann Lorsung (designer, creative director & editor MIEL): Miel is the French word for honey. It's unmistakably positive: in none of the languages it has a negative meaning or connotation and it doesn't mean anything in English.
ROSIE & THE RABBITS: What is MIEL today?
Éireann Lorsung: MIEL is a small press. We put out little books of prose and poetry. We also have a magazine called 1110 (containing one photograph, one story and ten poems) and stationary for intelligent, beautiful, challenging and interesting people who care about having a thoughtful relation with what they produce and with the products they use to do that.
ROSIE & THE RABBITS: When was MIEL born?
Éireann Lorsung: We started up the magazine two years ago in the UK, when I was living there and Jonathan moved to England as well. More or less one year ago we started the press.
ROSIE & THE RABBITS: MIEL is not only about words, we see a lot of illustrations on cards and calendars as well. Do you make these yourself?
Éireann Lorsung: Yes, I make the drawings myself and Jonathan helps with bookbinding, editorial stuff and all the financial things. It's not that easy, certainly not in Belgium with the taxes and so.
ROSIE & THE RABBITS: How did you get started? I imagine bookbinding requires a very specific knowledge.
Éireann Lorsung: I actually already had experience. I did a MFA (Master in Fine Arts) in the US; we had studio practice and it was required to do a second specialty so I chose bookbinding and printmaking, which is a more fine type of bookbinding.
ROSIE & THE RABBITS: Is MIEL something you were missing in Belgium?
Éireann Lorsung: Well, I have only been here since August, so I'm not sure. In the Netherlands there are definitely strong art movements. I really would like to meet other book artists or artists in general.
ROSIE & THE RABBITS: People don't use pen and paper that often anymore. Do you feel the consequences of the digital revolution? Do you feel a need to "restore" the balance?
Éireann Lorsung: It's a lot easier now to market things, because of the internet. There's more out there so it's more competitive as well but the people who are buying our things are not the ones who download 99 cent ebooks.
One of the reasons why we started with small books is to approach people who are not familiar with literature: there's poetry and one piece of prose (14-28 pages) so you can just sit down and read all of it at once. An that's also a response to the immediateness of the information on the web; it's more relaxing if you can read it while sitting.
One of the reasons why we started with small books is to approach people who are not familiar with literature: there's poetry and one piece of prose (14-28 pages) so you can just sit down and read all of it at once. An that's also a response to the immediateness of the information on the web; it's more relaxing if you can read it while sitting.
ROSIE & THE RABBITS: Do you also print customized work?
Éireann Lorsung: We don't print on demand, no. The editions are numbered and if the edition is done we start new prints.
ROSIE & THE RABBITS: Where does your love for literature and poetry come from?
Éireann Lorsung: My dad used to pay me to memorize poems. When I was 7 I wrote a poem, my dad took it to work to make copies and still today he has a copy hanging above his work space. Later on I studied English. My favourite poem is The Love Song because it's one of the first poems I memorized not as a child. It's so beautiful and moving and tragic at the same time.
ROSIE & THE RABBITS: What inspires you?
Éireann Lorsung: What doesn't? Everything really. When my attention is lively then I'm most able to work. It might be harder here because I'm not so connected to the literature scene. In the UK and US I felt inspired by people who love writing as well.
ROSIE & THE RABBITS: How different is poetry from prose to you? Do you need a different setting for both?
Éireann Lorsung: No, not really. The best place to write in general is on the train, but in Belgium, unfortunately, there are no long train routes.
ROSIE & THE RABBITS: What are your plans and ideas for the future?
ROSIE & THE RABBITS: What are your plans and ideas for the future?
Éireann Lorsung: We're at an intersection right now. I really enjoy writing an teaching and the perfect place for that is university, but I'm not that comfortable with university as an institution. So an academical career would be one option, but other options are gallery use, café use, a teaching space and a kind of shop with precious things and supplies. People from the community could then use it and we could give class in it and support the work of writers.
In February, March and April MIEL is organizing a couple of workshops. You can find more info on their Facebook page and website!
www.facebook.com/MIELbooks
MIEL - website
In February, March and April MIEL is organizing a couple of workshops. You can find more info on their Facebook page and website!
www.facebook.com/MIELbooks
MIEL - website
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| Pictures: MIEL & Zachary Carlsen |
