Space in [Ab]sence

Bitek's is a close-up of calligraphy in an undetermined language-from Julie Mehretu's Invisible Sun (Algorithm 5, second letter form)-a more vibrant depiction of coding than the black and buff-white of Markotic's (Floating Data from Laurie Frick's art installation Quantify-Me). Less successful is "Half-Deflated Heart Balloon" with its self-conscious run-ons and occasional wordiness, and the odd forced simile: "My chest / lifts like a page from // the daily calendar I've forgotten / to rip off" However, these are exceptions in an otherwise strong collection.