Deadpoet emerged from the urge for independent creation and has words and writing as a point of origin. Icons of Passion set off the npo. Based on the poetry collection A Dead Poet's Searching Sould Never Rests, this was a poetic trail through the red light district of Ghent in 2012.
The experience of offering poems at places where they normally are not seen, indicated that each person is open to poetry even if they are not looking for it or are ven convinced that peoems are not their thing. The contact between maker and public enhanced this experience.
Icons of Passion led to the performance Dance of the Dead Poet which coincided with the founding of the npo.
The experience of offering poems at places where they normally are not seen, indicated that each person is open to poetry even if they are not looking for it or are ven convinced that peoems are not their thing. The contact between maker and public enhanced this experience.
Icons of Passion led to the performance Dance of the Dead Poet which coincided with the founding of the npo.
Team
Sabine Martens
poet, producer, maker of installations and performances
Axel
Dhondt
Maker, director, actor and writer of theater and short movies
Marie-Jeanne Bonamie
advisor and supporter
Vision and mission
DeadPoet shares the passion for the word in all its forms with the broadest possible audience.
1. Independent, own and innovative creation
Independent creation is the focal point. Existing work of other artists can be a starting point and an inspiration but own work takes the lead. Each project explores innovative pathways.
2. Art with words in all possible forms and media
Poetry, drama and other textual material constitute the basis but are expressed in different forms. A synergy is achieved between language on the one hand and drama, performance, dance, music, film, exhibition, … on the other. The cross-fertilization between various art forms is triggered by the moment, the work, by the vibe of the maker.
3. Diversity in artists
From that own work DeadPoet fills creations with changing performers and artists. The creation determines the choice of which performer can best express the work. A new layer in the creation stems from this cooperation with other artists. In this process artists and the makers of DeadPoet go into dialogue and renew each other.
4. Diversity in locations
For each work or project a location is chosen in function of this project. This location also determines the outcome and the result of the artistic process. When a project is executed in a different location than the one it was created for, the interchange is reversed and the new location will provide a new form for the original project or even transform it completely.
5. Divers and small audience
DeadPoet wants to reach an audience in all possible places, including the public space. To us diversity means all people without regard for class, rank or means; without regard for gender, ethnicity, age, interest. We only want to move and touch, even with only 1 word.
DeadPoet also makes efforts to reach those people who have little or no means to experience art.
Our projects are far from commercial; neither the big crowd nor the big gain are the focus. The intimacy in experiencing the work is an important feature of many projects.
6. Platform
DeadPoet is open to cooperation and offers chances to beginning artists to support their idea(s). Each question can be asked through contact.
Our base in Ghent
Van Hulthem
The business seat of our npo is situated at the heart of the Ghent student area in the Karel Van Hulthemstraat. The street is named after the historic figure who safeguarded the collection of the Museum of the Fine Arts and the Botanical Garden of the University of Ghent. His name was also given to the Van Hulthem manuscript, a collection of Middle Dutch texts that he bought following his passion for gathering knowledge and sharing it. His collection of books, manuscripts and texts forms the basis for the patrimony of the Royal Library Albertina in Brussels and the University Library in Ghent (Booktower).
Our base at number 20 is part of a mansion built by a single seamstress in 1903. Her story and the one of Karel Van Hulthem have inspired us and led to the performance Vrouw met Boek (Woman with Book) in 2018.
Our base in Brussels
Villa Montald
Villa Montald is our base in Brussels from November 2018 onwards. The villa is used for rehearsals and performances featuring artists from the Brussels area. We are very happy to have teamed up with the current residents of the villa.
Villa Montald was built in 1909 and was inhabited by the painter who gave his name to it. He lived there to paint and to give painting lessons. René Magritte was one of his students.
