When two art forms meet, something special happens. Three talented poets bring the nuances of poetry from the Deaf community to life. In their performances, poetry in sign language, Visual Vernacular, and spoken word share the stage, as presented by Sogand Afshar, Zo\u00eb McWhinney, and Mirthe Berentsen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Illustrator Bakita Pietrowicz showcases new work inspired by the poetry and imagery of the performers in this unique, one-time-only program, with which we conclude the festival weekend at LantarenVenster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please note:<\/strong> the guests use International Sign (IS), Dutch Sign Language (NGT) and spoken English. The conversation is translated into NGT, IS and spoken English. The performances themselves are not translated or interpreted.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"event_date":"2026-06-07","footnotes":""},"venue":[265],"event_type":[113],"route":[],"class_list":["post-1177","event","type-event","status-publish","hentry","venue-lantarenvenster-1","event_type-performance"],"acf":{"event_location":265,"event_location_source":{"label":"Locatie","type":"taxonomy","formatted_value":265},"event_category":[113],"event_category_source":{"label":"Categorie","type":"taxonomy","formatted_value":[113]},"language":["is"],"language_source":{"label":"Voertaal","type":"select","formatted_value":[{"value":"is","label":"International Sign (IS)"}]},"spoken_languages":"International Sign, Dutch Sign Language","spoken_languages_source":{"label":"Gesproken talen","type":"text","formatted_value":"International Sign, Dutch Sign Language"},"language_label":"spoken","language_label_source":{"label":"Label","type":"select","formatted_value":"Gesproken talen"},"subtitles":["dutch"],"subtitles_source":{"label":"Boventiteling","type":"select","formatted_value":["Nederlands"]},"has_interpreter":true,"has_interpreter_source":{"label":"Tolk NGT\/Schrijftolk","type":"true_false","formatted_value":true},"poets":[272,713,719,777],"poets_source":{"label":"Dichters","type":"relationship","formatted_value":[{"ID":272,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2026-02-19 16:38:33","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-19 15:38:33","post_content":"\n Zo\u00eb McWhinney (GBR) is among the international top tier of Visual Vernacular artists. VV is an autonomous art form through which deaf performers can tell expressively without spoken or written words. Both the hands and the entire body serve as the medium. For poetry lovers, this is a rare opportunity to experience word art in a completely new way and to expand your sense of what poetry can be.\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n How you might know this poet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mirthe Berentsen (NLD) is a writer, artist, and policy advisor with a background in comparative literature, linguistics, and politics. Her progressive deafness serves as a lens to explore the intersection of language, liminality, and care. In 2026, two new books will be published: a poetic inquiry into language and family with Das Mag, and a conversation with artist Christine Sun Kim at the London-based publisher \" \".<\/p>\n\n\n\n How you may know this artist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sogand Afshar (AFG+NLD) is a 21-year-old student and assistant in hospitality and tourism at ROC Midden Nederland. In March, she won second place in the Entree Service Competition at Skills, the national vocational championships for MBO students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Afshar carries a mission to bridge the gap between deaf and hearing communities: \u201cDeaf people know how to communicate with each other, and hearing people do too\u2026 but what happens when they meet? How do they communicate then?\u201d She is dedicated to raising awareness and improving communication between these worlds.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Sogand Afshar (AFG+NLD)","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"sogand-afshar-afgnld","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-05-28 08:59:29","post_modified_gmt":"2026-05-28 07:59:29","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.poetry.nl\/festival\/?post_type=poet&p=719","menu_order":78,"post_type":"poet","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":777,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2026-04-01 09:15:36","post_date_gmt":"2026-04-01 08:15:36","post_content":"\n Bakita Pietrowicz is an illustrator and animator working between the Netherlands and Kenya. She works across both analogue and digital techniques, creating images that exist somewhere between reality and fantasy. Her work often draws on natural elements to express narrative and emotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How you may know Bakita Pietrowicz<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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