Signing & Speaking

In this program, we will engage in conversation with deaf and hearing poets about the intersections of signs and spoken language in poetry. There are challenges, but mainly possibilities in the combination of these two languages. Poets who have experience with this give us some insight into what their collaboration looked like and what's important for them in these processes. We have the dup Elten Kiene and Boaz Blume, who combine spoken work & spoken sign in their performances. Ilse Jobse, a deaf poet who works together closely with singers and musicians, brings guitarist Johan Fransen to talk more about their joint collaboration. They will tell us more about these very special crossovers.

In Ilse Jobse's life as a deaf person, she has found her own unique way to enjoy music. Although she hears little, she feels and sees sound in her own way. She writes songs about her experiences as a deaf person and her childhood, and brings them to life in sign language. Singing has always been a passion of hers, but her deafness made it seem impossible. However, she has found an alternative way to tell her story and share her songs. With a singing interpreter who translates her gestures, she finds a voice for her experiences and emotions.

Johan Fransen is a guitarist and composer with VAN PIEKEREN and In'tVeld. Besides working as a guitar teacher, he also works as a freelancer in recording studios, and as a supporting guitarist for other artists. His music career started when he was allowed to play at the Conservatory as a 14-year-old boy, after which he was admitted to the preliminary training. Since then, he has always remained active in the music scene and performs throughout the year. For Johan, music is literally and figuratively his life.