Germany hosts the largest poetry festival, celebrating its 25th edition in Berlin, with poetry from the richness and variety of European languages such as Catalan.
Germany hosts the largest Poetry Festival in Europe. An annual event, started in 2000, which celebrates its 25th edition in Berlin. The motto of the festival this year is ‘highlight underrepresented voices‘.
The Festival includes training for educators in poetryworkshops for children and a panel on sociopolitical topics.
Inside a circus tent in Berlin, movement mixes with the spoken word in one of the acts. The poets Mireia Casanyes y Carla Marcofrom Spain, explained that they performed their work in Catalan because they understand that it is a language in danger of extinction.
“Poetry expresses that feeling of being in a language that is not hegemonica language that is not part of European, cultural and historical thought, but Catalan is of great importance,” explained Casanyes. More than 150 artists from all over the world have come to Berlin to participate.
“Language forces us to think in binary”
Mel Manuel Irmey addressed language use and gender identity. Manuel believes that the German language, with its sexist nouns, forces people to think in binary terms: “It’s very strange because we learn languages at school, but in reality I I never learned to talk about myself“, said.
“Poetry is a universal language”
The works are presented throughout the city, from a sound installation next to a club to an outdoor patio.
The diversity of the artists is reflected in the topics they address, such as an American artist who talks about homophobia in the United States the poets Ukrainians who exhibit their works on how war affects your country.
Back in the circus tent, the artists say they hope the poetry will provide an emotional connection between their subjects and a broader European audience: “The poetry It does not only consist of specific words, it is a universal language, and through it we try to expand not only the spoken word, but also the images, the rhythm, the effects, the feelings,” explains Marco.
The Festival is scheduled until Sunday, July 21.
