NEUENGAMME 2011
In September 2011, Sound in the Silence brought us to the hauntingly historic grounds of the former Neuengamme concentration camp. Students from Hamburg, Germany, and Koszalin, Poland, participated in the inaugural edition of the project which was hosted by the borough of Altona, Hamburg, and cultural center MOTTE e.V. in collaboration with Gymnasium Altona/Hohenzollernring, Gymnasium Zespól Szkól in Koszalin, and the Neuengamme concentration camp memorial.
Over five days, 14-17 year-old students from Germany and Poland, as well as artists from around the world, including Dan Wolf, Keith Pinto, Michael Hearst, Jens Huckeriede, Kijoka Junica, and Indrani Delmaine, embarked on a deeply emotional journey of creative exploration. The workshops were held in the former brick factory of the Neuengamme memorial where the participants used the powerful history of the site as inspiration. Participants engaged in an open-ended creative process, expressing their ideas and emotions through text, music, and dance without the pressure to perform.
The program also fostered cross-cultural connections as Polish students stayed with the families of their German peers, promoting deeper understanding and friendship. The week culminated in a moving 35-minute performance presented at the FABRIK cultural center on September 24 and at the Neuengamme memorial on September 26, captivating audiences and honoring the memory of the past.
This excerpt from Jens Huckeriede’s film captures the heart of their transformative process—an inspiring testament to the power of creativity to confront history and open paths to healing. Don’t miss this moving glimpse into the project that started it all.
About Jens Huckeriede's Film
Jens Huckeriede’s film captures the essence of Sound in the Silence, offering an intimate look at the creative journey of students and artists as they bring history to life. From the initial workshops to the final performance, the film highlights the collaborative spirit, artistic exploration, and emotional depth of this transformative project. With an international cast and crew, the documentary showcases the power of art and education to inspire dialogue, reflection, and connection across cultures.
Experience the Powerful Beginning of Sound in the Silence
What do poems, plays, and other creative texts from throughout history tell us about the times in which they were written? And what do they reveal about the forces still at play in our contemporary societies?
Sound in the Silence is featured on the seventh episode of the second season of The Dybbukast, a podcast that examines and gives context to creative works while exploring their relationships to issues still present today. The episode features performed readings from the script that was created by students during the project's first edition at Neuengamme in 2011.
Intercut with readings from that script and other related texts is an interview with Sound in the Silence Co-Founder and current Artistic Director Dan Wolf, an artist who works with rap, theater, and personal narrative. He discusses how his own family history intersected with the creation of this project, while also sharing about the work’s long-term impact and the ways in which its collaborative process engages with remembrance.
This episode is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and was conceived of as a result of a research trip supported by Asylum Arts.
Read the transcript for "Sound in the Silence."