The Wall Poems of Leiden

The city of Leiden is decorated throughout with surprising 'wall poems'. These poems are part of the project "Poems and walls", which began in 1992 with a poem by the Russian poet Marina Tsvetajeva. That poem was the start of a long series that continues to grow. Placing poems on the walls was a private initiative by the foundation 'TEGEN-BEELD' of Ben Walenkamp and Jan-Willem Bruins. Various private and corporate sponsors have also supported the project. The foundation focuses on the relationship between language and image.

Explaining the project

Jabra Ibrahim JabraThe poems, which were written in many different languages, are meant to be for everybody. In most cases a small plaque is placed beneath the poem containing translations in Dutch and English. James Brockway did most of the English translations. The initiators of this project hope that passers-by are stimulated by the poems as well as by the visual image of the letters against the background formed by the wall. The reader/viewer is confronted by various sorts of characters that refer to different cultures. The common thread throughout this project is that many of these poems reflect upon language, colour, or upon the life as a poet. Signatures indicate the painter as well as the person who proposed each poem for the project. It is the personal choice of the foundation 'TEGEN-BEELD' that decides which poems will appear on the walls.

There is a special relationship between this project and the city of Leiden: Throughout the ages Leiden has been home to a remarkable number of writers. Numerous authors, such as Piet Paaltjens, J.C. Bloem, Maarten Biesheuvel, Jan Wolkers and Maarten 't Hart, lived or studied here. Being a university town, Leiden has taditionally attracted many scholars and scientists from all over the world. This makes the international character of the project all the more worthwhile.

On the Wall Poems website you can find a lot of extra information including a virtual tour.