Transporting Silences: Masterclass on Self-Translation with Manuel Iris

Transporting Silences: Masterclass on Self-Translation with Manuel Iris

This three-hour in-person masterclass offers poets and translators a rare opportunity to work closely with award-winning poet Manuel Iris during his visit from the US to London. Through discussion, reflection, and practical exercises, participants will explore self-translation as both a creative practice and a way of deepening their relationship to the language(s) they work in.
The masterclass will be divided into two sections. In the first, Manuel will discuss the practical and political dimensions of self-translation, drawing on his experience as an immigrant writer working across languages. He will explore how translating his own work has shaped his writing and become part of his creative process. The second section will be a hands-on workshop focused on practice and experimentation. Participants are encouraged to bring one of their poems, begin translating it, and share discoveries and challenges with the rest of the group.
Whether you are a poet curious about translation or a translator looking to sharpen your creative practice, the workshop will offer new ways of thinking about voice, form, and the movement between languages.

About Manuel Iris

Manuel Iris (1983) is a Mexico-born, bilingual American poet and the author of six poetry collections that have received national and international recognition. He has held several distinguished positions, including Poet Laureate of the City of Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as writer-in-residence at both the Cincinnati Public Library and Thomas More University. In 2021, he was named a member of Mexico’s prestigious National System of Art Creators and, in 2025, received the Ambroggio Poetry Prize from the Academy of American Poets.

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