A new edition of A Mic of One’s Own, a series of collaborations between Kunstinstituut Melly and The Writer’s Guide (to the Galaxy)!

This edition’s theme, Rites of Passage (rituals or experiences that mark a major milestone or change in a person’s life) is influenced by the exhibition Still Shifting, Mother Field by artist Jennifer Tee (currently on display in Melly!). A central element of Jennifer Tee’s exhibition is her Tampan Tulip series. It’s a series of collages made from pressed tulip petals, with motifs taken from Tampan weavings (a type of textile that can be found in the Lampung region of southern Sumatra). These Tampans were exchanged during important rites of passage and the motifs often include a ship with human souls, animals, and plant-like forms in motion to the afterlife: references that explore diasporic narratives, migration, and the tree of life in relation to genealogy and ancestry.

Are you a writer, poet, spoken word artist or songwriter and do you want to write and share a text about rites of passage? It can be a personal piece about your own coming-of-age rituals, an essay about different cultural celebrations, or just a funny story about an awful wedding. Apply until April 28th by filling out the application form here. Do you just want to come and listen? Get your free ticket here.

With these sessions we aim to create a safe space for intimate stories to be shared. To ensure that, we expect all participants to respect each other’s privacy and vulnerability.

Date: Friday May 12th 2023
Time: 19:00 (doors: 18:30)
Location: Kunstinstituut Melly, Witte de Withstraat 50 Rotterdam
Entrance: free, register here

Check our other events here!