Dom Sylvester HOUÉDARD (1924-1992), commonly referred to as 'dsh', was a Benedictine monk and concrete poet who was a pivotal cult figure of London's 1960s counter-culture. Born in Guernsey but educated in Rome and Oxford, Houédard worked as a military intelligence officer before becoming a practicing Benedictine priest at the Prinknash Abbey in Gloucestershire. His lifelong interest in poetry led to his participation in the international Concrete Poetry movement expanding his practice beyond the ‘neo-beat’ poetry which had occupied him until that time. Self-described as a ‘monknik’ (a play on beatnik), dsh quickly became a key figure of the burgeoning art scene in London, which Guy Brett was championing.

Towards the beginning of the 70s his reputation as an artist and rumours about his sexual proclivities, made their way back to the Abbey. They demanded that dsh cease his practice or risk getting disrobed: ultimately dsh chose his faith, leading to the loss of one of the most significant concrete visual poets of the twentieth century.

 

Due to the limited period in which he worked, just over 12 years, and compounded by the fact that his Estate was bequeathed to a library, there is a scarcity of works available. Shown here is an important early collection of DSH’s work, pulled together by the great collectors, Ruth and Marvin Sackner. This is the first time many of these works have been exhibited since their making.