Download PDF - Literaturwerkstatt Berlin

Literaturwerkstatt Berlin
Knaackstr. 97
D-10435 Berlin
Tel: +49. 30. 48 52 45 – 0
http://www.literaturwerkstatt.org
Press release
Press & Publicity
Boris Nitzsche & Jutta Büchter
Tel: +49. 30. 48 52 45 – 25
Fax: +49. 30. 48 52 45 – 30
E-Mail: presse@literaturwerkstatt.org
Monday, 28 April 2014
Poems of protest – poems from Gezi Park
When the bulldozers rolled on to Gezi Park in
Istanbul a year ago, they sparked off a protest
that spilled over to cover the whole country and
is not over yet. Resistance to the building of a
shopping centre led to a fight for more
democracy and press freedom in Turkey and
against corruption and arbitrary behaviour by
the government that is still going on today.
From the very beginning it is above all poets
who have been giving the protesters a voice.
On 7 June 2014 writers, artists and actors who
Onur Orhan
are themselves part of the protest movement will be guests of the 15th poesiefestival berlin. They
include Onur Behramoğlu, Neslihan Yalman, Gökçenur Ç., Mehmet Altun, Efe Duyan and Kaan Koç
Zeynep Altıok Akatlı, Onur Orhan, Barış Atay Mengüllü and Deniz Yücel.
Poetry played a central role in the Gezi Park protests. Poems were painted on to the walls of
houses, while books of verse were given out for the demonstrators to read and there were readings,
concerts and other events, and poems were written and performed. The student who placed himself
in front of a bulldozer and read became an icon of the uprising.
All the participants in this event belong to the opposition and give the opposition a voice in their
works, texts, reports and actions. They are constantly finding creative ways to get around
censorship and reach the people – in the Internet or in the street.
The Gezi Park protests are over, but their founding idea lives on. When in March 2014 a boy died
from the injuries he received in the protests, the resistance flared up again.
The 15th poesiefestival berlin takes place from 5 – 13 June 2014 in the Academy of Arts in
Hanseatenweg. For more information please visit www.literaturwerkstatt.org
The poesiefestival berlin is a project by the Literaturwerkstatt Berlin in cooperation with the Academy of the Arts and
gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance of the Hauptstadtkulturfonds.
Sat. 7 June 2014, 6 pm
15th poesiefestival berlin
Discussion: Gezi Park and hackers’ truth Venue: Academy of Arts, Hanseatenweg 10, 10557 Berlin
With Onur Behramoğlu, Zeynep Altıok Akatlı, Onur Orhan, Barış Atay Mengüllü and Deniz Yücel
Sat. 7 June 2014, 8 pm
15th poesiefestival berlin
Reading: Turkey – uprising in verse
Venue: Academy of Arts, Hanseatenweg 10, 10557 Berlin
With Onur Behramoğlu, Neslihan Yalman, Gökçenur Ç., Mehmet Altun, Efe Duyan and Kaan Koç
Literaturwerkstatt Berlin
Knaackstr. 97
D-10435 Berlin
Tel: +49. 30. 48 52 45 – 0
http://www.literaturwerkstatt.org
Sat. 7 June 2014, 10 pm
15th poesiefestival berlin
Concert: Panzehir
Venue: Academy of Arts, Hanseatenweg 10, 10557 Berlin
Enquiries and information:
Boris Nitzsche & Jutta Büchter Press & Publicity,
Literaturwerkstatt Berlin
Tel: 030. 48 52 45 25
www.literaturwerkstatt.org
Press & Publicity
Boris Nitzsche & Jutta Büchter
Tel: +49. 30. 48 52 45 – 25
Fax: +49. 30. 48 52 45 – 30
E-Mail: presse@literaturwerkstatt.org