(Photos) Rihanna’s “ANTI” Artwork Features Braille Poetry For The Visually-Impaired

Last night, Rihanna unveiled the cover art for eighth studio album, ANTI, in a spectacular way. During the unveiling at the MAMA Gallery in LA, Rihanna expressed that this cover is her “favorite album cover” yet, and with the latest details we understand why.

Rihanna linked up with Roy Nachum, the artist of the cover, and Chloe Mitchell to create seven poems inscribed into the artwork to accompany seven oil paintings by Nachum, according to PitchFork. What makes it even more dope it that the inscription is written in Braille for the visually-impaired.

Read the poetry down bottom.

JaaiR (JR)
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Rihanna’s “ANTI” Artwork Features Braille Poetry:

The Braille inscription will also allow people who are blind to experience an entire album by touch.

1. “IF THEY LET US”
Poster Braille Translation from Album Packaging
2015, Oil On Convas
100 x 87 inches / 254 x 221 cm
Poet: Chloe Mitchell

I sometimes fear that I am misunderstood.
It is simply because what I want to say,
what I need to say, won’t be heard.
Heard in a way I so rightfully deserve.
What I choose to say is of so much substance
That people just won’t understand the depth of my message.
So my voice is not my weakness,
It is the opposite of what others are afraid of.
My voice is my suit and armor,
My shield, and all that I am.
I will comfortably breath in it, until I find the moment to be silent.
I live loudly in my mind, so many hours of the day.
The world is pin drop sound compared to the boom
That thumps and bumps against the walls of my cranium.
I live it and love it and despise it and I am entrapped in it.
So being misunderstood, I am not offended by the gesture, but honored.
If they let us…

2. “IF THEY LET US Part I”
Front Cover Braille Translation from Album Packaging
2015, Oil On Canvas
51 x 45 inches / 130 x 114 cm
Poet: Chloe Mitchell

I sometimes fear that I am misunderstood.
It is simply because what I want to say,
what I need to say, won’t be heard.
Heard in a way I so rightfully deserve.
What I choose to say is of so much substance
That people just won’t understand the depth of my message.
So my voice is not my weakness,
It is the opposite of what others are afraid of.

3. “IF THEY LET US Part II”
Back Cover Braille Translation from Album Packaging
2015, Oil On Canvas
51 x 45 inches / 130 x 114 cm
Poet: Chloe Mitchell

My voice is my suit and armor,
My shield, and all that I am.
I will comfortably breath in it, until I find the moment to be silent.
I live loudly in my mind, so many hours of the day.
The world is pin drop sound compared to the boom
That thumps and bumps against the walls of my cranium.
I live it and love it and despise it and I am entrapped in it.
So being misunderstood, I am not offended by the gesture, but honored.
If they let us…

4. “FIRE Part I”
Interior Artwork Braille Translation from Album Packaging
2015, Oil and Ash on Canvas
46 x 38 inches 117 x 97 cm
Poet: Roy Nachum

Falling fast backwards into deep water.
As my eyes opened I knew that I was naked.
Floating on the waters surface.
Alone with the reflections of myself.

5. “FIRE Part II”
Interior Artwork Braille Translation from Album Packaging
2015, Oil and Ash on Canvas
46 x 38 inches / 117 x 97 cm
Poet: Roy Nachum

My face in deep shadows.
Dreams and ideas beyond limits.
The future is all I have to look forward to.
I turn myself inside out.
Only then am I whole.

6. “FIRE Part III”
Interior Artwork Braille Translation from Album Packaging
2015, Oil and Ash on Canvas
46 x 38 inches / 117 x 97 cm
Poet: Roy Nachum

Clouds replace the sunlight.
Expanding into the darkness.
The shoreline covered with night.
Backward strokes,
Deep breaths, salt air.

7. “R‎”
Interior Artwork Braille Translation from Album Packaging
2015, Oil On Canvas
90 x 7o inches / 229 x 178 cm

R

BRAILLE: A system of writing or printing, devised by L. Braille for use by the blind, in which combinations of tangible dots or points are used to represent letters, characters, etc., that are read by touch.

Check out some of the fun during RiRi’s unveiling in the gallery above.

IJS: This is why Rihanna is all that and a bag of chips [TBT phrase]. I love this girl.