© Bram Braet, 2023 / Bookperformance, Science Day, De Krook
*by Nomi Van Vaerenbergh, 2023
My name is Nomi Van Vaerenbergh. I was born in Belgium, grew up in an Italian household since my ‘nonna’, grandmother, is from Sicily. I am also a student in Ghent and I am currently doing an educational bachelor in secondary school education: English and History. Next to my studies I also do a student job in Ghent and on the day when I had to go to work I met Çiğdem by pure coincidence. The internet had failed her and I helped her find her way to the right location. While talking about the life without the internet, we found a common interest: languages. I have always had a deep love for languages and different cultures, which has shaped my perspective on the world.
Seeing my enthusiasm, I guess, Çiğdem introduced her “Bookperformance” to me. I was immediately captivated by its essence of unity and co-creation. The idea that we are all interconnected and capable of collaboratively shaping our experiences resonates deeply with me. As an artist, I believe that art has the force to transcend boundaries, foster mutual understanding, and ignite meaningful connections. In our conversations with Çiğdem, we delved into the beauty of languages, discovering diverse cultures, other traditions, and countless ways of thinking.
Language, to me, is not merely a means of communication but a vehicle for creativity and self-expression. It is through these conversations that we embarked on a journey of exploring the sounds and colours of languages. Translating her poem” Rise Through Silence” from English into Dutch was an enriching experience that allowed me to reflect on the harmonious nature of languages. Çiğdem explained that translating with the attention to sound effect is called “transparency” in Bookperformance. This made me understood all her triggering questions about the possibilities in Dutch language. At the start I was somehow doubtful that her poem would sound with the same way as its English versions I read and Turkish version I listened. Her questions made me be aware of the details in my own language. The transparency of the poem was completed when Çiğdem and I were both contented about that the Dutch version reflects the authenticity of the poem. I believe that this kind of work requires love and strong interest in languages. It is a process of thinking all the possibilities together. It is an exercise of pushing the boundaries in how much I know my own language. This was a performance. After the transparency was completed on the text, we worked on the vocalizing of it. It was another performance too. During the recording, we immersed ourselves in each other's words, experimenting with different approaches, and creating a mesmerizing symphony of voices. I was happy that my voice was accompanying her images that were also the transparency of “Rise Through Silence” poem. If someone had told me the possibility of voicing someone else’s poem at this level of intimacy, I would say that it would be possible between very close people. With this encounter I discovered that we can all be very close with each other if we listen, hear and share our human experience with a universal language.
Undoubtedly, the Bookperformance event was an extraordinary highlight for me. Witnessing Çiğdem’s ability to give shapes to the music and create captivating visual expressions was a true marvel. The musicians' talents added another layer of depth to the performance, grasping the audience's attention and evoking a sense of joy and wonder. The event seamlessly blended the scientific phenomenon of synesthesia with the artistic realm, creating a unique and immersive experience. As we brought some lines from
MyFace Book into the performance, we engaged in a delightful language game, inviting the audience to explore the nuances of expression and interpretation.
I firmly believe that through language and art, we can ignite curiosity, foster empathy, and cultivate a deeper understanding of each other and the world around us. It is through collaborative ventures like the Bookperformance that we can create transformative experiences, inviting others to join us in the realm of artistic exploration and expression. It is a pleasure to be part of how Bookperformance will reach others in Dutch.