80 years of liberation: the value of art when words fail

On the 12th of April, it will be 80 years since camp Westerbork was liberated by the Canadians. To keep the memories of the camp alive, Camp Westerbork Memorial Centre is working together with Hanze. How will the former 'transit camp' remain a meaningful place for future generations? How can you give shape to remembrance and commemoration artistically?

Text: Loes Vader

As senior researcher Art and Care, Fardo Eringa is part of the Music in Context and Image in Context research groups. Eringa is research project manager in the collaboration between the Prince Claus Conservatoire, the Music in Context lectorate and Remembrance Centre Camp Westerbork. She explores how to artistically give shape to remembrance and commemoration. "Camp Westerbork Memorial Centre is going through an innovation process in which they want to change the museum, the camp grounds and their education," Eringa explains. "They are looking for new forms of remembrance, focussing on how they can keep the place alive and the history tangible. They want to find out how Westerbork can remain a meaningful place to visit for future generations. Especially now that the last war generation will soon be gone forever."

Taking musicians off the stage

Eringa's research is mainly about what working in this place does to musicians and the artistic process they go through. "The Music in Context research group is curious about what happens when you take musicians off the stage and let them loose in new social contexts. What happens when you connect musicians to social issues and to external partners?  "We organise all kinds of activities around these questions. We always try to let the Conservatoire play a role in this and work with students and/or alumni.”

The country’s DNA

Conservatoire graduate Celia Serrano will perform on 12 April and 13 April with music she wrote for the temporary exhibition in the Memorial Centre. 'DNA van het land' is a multidisciplinary installation in which sound, space and visual elements come together. Serrano is an all-round maker who was given a space at her disposal to set up an exhibition and to give substance to 80 years of liberation in her own way. During her residency, the recently graduated saxophonist, singer and composer immersed herself in the complex history of Westerbork in order to translate the stories into artistic expression. "Although I was on location physically for two weeks, the residency consisted of a much longer period of reflection; absorbing the complex history of Westerbork, and translating the layered stories into art."

The project allowed her to push the boundaries of her artistic reach. "It encompassed everything I love: fieldwork, research, history, philosophy, reflection, artistic creation and working on location. A truly special experience of growth and discovery."

Art in such a historically charged place

Fardo Eringa observed the process Celia went through. "What is it like for an artist to create art in such a historically charged place, what is the impact of such a context?", Eringa wonders. "What does the artist go through? Where is the boundary of what an artist can and is allowed to do? What is considered appropriate by visitors? Historian Bas Kortholt, who is affiliated with the Memorial Centre, will conduct public research based on Celia's exhibition. We are exploring together what the role of music and art can be in remembrance and commemoration."

Tine Stolte is lecturer-researcher at the Conservatoire and involved in the collaboration with the Camp Westerbork Memorial Centre as both a lecturer and coordinator. "Three years ago, international master's students worked as 'artists in residence' on the former camp site on audiovisual works, which were then exhibited in the Memorial Centre. The flute and singing class of the Conservatoire has also made and performed a composition on the theme of Musicians commemorate Musicians, as an ode to the musicians who were interned at Camp Westerbork and then deported." 

School choir

That was the beginning of a long and lasting collaboration. The Prince Claus Conservatoire organises educational and research activities at the Memorial Centre at least twice a year. Stolte: "On Monday 14 April, the school choir will perform at Westerbork. A week later, the students reflect on what that has done to them. So that they start thinking: what does our art do to this place and what does this place do to me as an artist? We move between education, research and how we as musicians can contribute to a meaningful way of commemoration for future generations. So we can feel the urgency of the story in the here and now."

Minerva Art Academy

When the summer has ended, the Music in Context research group will explore what it is like to work together with Minerva Art Academy at Westerbork. "Ultimately, the goal is to discover the ways in which art can translate the history of such a historically charged place. What the added value of art can be when words fall short" concludes Eringa.