even fan minske ta minske
ik werken it as sletten wêze
yn dyn ferwûne sels, tige stil
raasto de muorren ta kearpunt
minske, sprekkend echobist, it leafst
hearst dysels yn de stim fan in oar
it leafst
Translated by Sytse Jansmaeven van mens tot mens
ik herken het als gesloten zijn
in je gewonde zelf, zeer stil
schreeuw je de muren tot keerpunt
mens, sprekend echodier, het liefst
hoor je jezelf in de stem van een ander
het liefst
person-to-person a moment
I’m familiar with that isolation
to your wounded self, so silent
you, screaming the walls to the brink
human, speaking, echoing beast, it’s best
to hear yourself in the voice of another
best
Translated by Preston LosackSytse Jansma (1980) lives in Harlingen and is a bilingual writer (Frisian/Dutch) and a visual artist. In his poetry, multilingualism is an important theme. His work can be characterized as exotic, imaginative and experimental.
Sytse: Every person encounters loneliness in their lifetime. It is part of being human. So it is with me too. You feel useless and unseen. You can no longer mirror yourself in the other—but because you have returned to yourself in this way, you can also find something that you were never really looking for.
Please, visit the speaking stone and scan the QR code to read and listen to the story.
Blokhuisplein 40, 8911 LJ Leeuwarden, Nederland
You’ll find this stone on the left side of the entrance to dbieb
Nicole van den Berg (1988) lives, works and walks in Leeuwarden. She writes short stories about people trying to make the most of things. Previously, Nicole was a child.
Nicole: Sometimes loneliness is like a deflated balloon in a ditch. Sometimes it’s the guy who twists and turns in his effort to make a dickpic that no one asked for. More often we are it, secretly, in ways we can’t explain to each other.
Please, visit the speaking stone and scan the QR code to read and listen to the story.
Theatergezelschap Tryater, Oostersingel, Leeuwarden, Nederland
You’ll find this stone on the right of the entrance to Tryater
Sytse Jansma (1980) lives in Harlingen and is a bilingual writer (Frisian/Dutch) and a visual artist. In his poetry, multilingualism is an important theme. His work can be characterized as exotic, imaginative and experimental.
Sytse: Every person encounters loneliness in their lifetime. It is part of being human. So it is with me too. You feel useless and unseen. You can no longer mirror yourself in the other—but because you have returned to yourself in this way, you can also find something that you were never really looking for.
Please, visit the speaking stone and scan the QR code to read and listen to the story.
Nieuwestad 59, 8911 CJ Leeuwarden, Nederland
You’ll find this stone on the ride of the entrance to book store Van der Velde
Nicole van den Berg (1988) lives, works and walks in Leeuwarden. She writes short stories about people trying to make the most of things. Previously, Nicole was a child.
Nicole: Sometimes loneliness is like a deflated balloon in a ditch. Sometimes it’s the guy who twists and turns in his effort to make a dickpic that no one asked for. More often we are it, secretly, in ways we can’t explain to each other.
Please, visit the speaking stone and scan the QR code to read and listen to the story.
Jimmy's Leeuwarden, Nieuweburen, Leeuwarden, Nederland
You’ll find this stone near the entrance of ‘Amaryllis jongerenwerk Jimmy’s’
Remco Kuiper (1971) lives in Goutum and mainly writes in Frisian. He often opts for the poetic form. He is also involved in music, reading and recording texts. His poetry arises from the language itself, it is understandable, but looks for underlying connections.
Remco: It has a solitary side, often unconscious and indefinable. It is not being able to reach the other, not finding recognition, dead-end dialogue. Such a thing can cause isolation and settle in one’s body and mind. Then it takes on something existential, although it is also part of it. It helps to get on well with yourself, but it won’t work without the other. It is both romance and tragedy at once.
Please, visit the speaking stone and scan the QR code to read and listen to the story.
Bagijnestraat 58A, 8911 DS Leeuwarden, Nederland
You’ll find this stone near the bench left of Tresoar’s main entrance
Remco Kuiper (1971) lives in Goutum and mainly writes in Frisian. He often opts for the poetic form. He is also involved in music, reading and recording texts. His poetry arises from the language itself, it is understandable, but looks for underlying connections.
Remco: It has a solitary side, often unconscious and indefinable. It is not being able to reach the other, not finding recognition, dead-end dialogue. Such a thing can cause isolation and settle in one’s body and mind. Then it takes on something existential, although it is also part of it. It helps to get on well with yourself, but it won’t work without the other. It is both romance and tragedy at once.
Please, visit the speaking stone and scan the QR code to read and listen to the story.
Haniasteeg 47, 8911 BX Leeuwarden, Nederland
You’ll find this stone on the left side of the entrance of Kunstruimte H47
Raymond Muller (1986) is an actor and writer. He works for Tryater and Illustere Figuren. His lyrics are influenced by spoken word and theater and can be both dreamy and straightforward.
Raymond: Unfortunately, I think everyone has to deal with a kind of loneliness at some point, which can be in many different ways. I think the Sprekende Stenen project is a wonderful way to give loneliness a voice and to look for how we as a society can prevent it from being, becoming or remaining an invisible problem.
Please, visit the speaking stone and scan the QR code to read and listen to the story.
Smoel Kunstwerkplaats, Nieuwe Oosterstraat, Leeuwarden, Nederland
You’ll find this stone at the left side of Smoel Kunstwerkplaats
Raymond Muller (1986) is an actor and writer. He works for Tryater and Illustere Figuren. His lyrics are influenced by spoken word and theater and can be both dreamy and straightforward.
Raymond: Unfortunately, I think everyone has to deal with a kind of loneliness at some point, which can be in many different ways. I think the Sprekende Stenen project is a wonderful way to give loneliness a voice and to look for how we as a society can prevent it from being, becoming or remaining an invisible problem.
Please, visit the speaking stone and scan the QR code to read and listen to the story.
Beursplein 11, 8911 AN Leeuwarden, Nederland
On the waterfront of RUG Campus Fryslân, just around the left corner from the front of the building
Gemale Bofunda was born in Congo and graduated from the Academy of Pop Culture in Leeuwarden. Gemale is a musician, theater maker, writer and storyteller and prefers to create performances in which he combines these disciplines. With his performances, he likes to contribute positively to the lives of others.
Gemale: Loneliness means recognizing that you are an individual being and that you want to empower togetherness. You are reduced to your smallest kind of human. From here, you can search again to break through barriers and build bridges.