Ellen Deckwitz en Jan Brokken in Writers Series, 11 oktober
Our first Writers Series episode of this season already promises to be a top night: authors Jan Brokken and Ellen Deckwitz have a conversation about his new book De kampschilders, and about art as salvation in hard times. Poet and singer Robin Block contributes with music performances.
The very reason for bringing together these two writers is Brokken's latest non-fiction book De kampschilders (The Camp Painters), in which he magisterially interweaves the stories of his parents and artists who all stayed in Japanese internment camps during World War II in the then Dutch East Indies.
Jan Brokken also outlines how, in the 1930s, artists from all over the world came to Bali and were inspired by Balinese culture. And how art proved a salvation during the horrors of the Japanese camps.
Ellen Deckwitz's Indonesian grandmother was also forced to stay in Japanese internment camps. She told Deckwitz about it. After her death, Deckwitz realised that she was the only one in her family who had heard about this part of her grandmother's life. She spoke to many others with Indonesian roots and subsequently published her impressive collection of poetry Hogere natuurkunde (Higher Physics) about it.
Jan Brokken was recently awarded the Gouden Ganzeveer for his entire oeuvre.
Come and watch, and listen Wednesday evening 11 October, 20:30-22:00 at the Central Library on the Spui in The Hague. Note: Writers Series will not take place in Studio B (1st floor) as before, but on Podium B (5th floor).
The conversation will be in Dutch.
READ ON & BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE (regular €12 / all up to 30 years, Bibliotheekpas, Ooievaarspas €6).
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