The symbolism behind Bombing of Poems

The Rotterdam edition marked an important moment: it had been exactly 85 years since the bombing of Rotterdam during the Second World War. By dropping poems instead of explosives, the public space was transformed into a place of poetry and reflection.

During the event, poems from 50 Dutch-speaking and 50 Chilean poets descended, printed in both the original language and in Dutch or Spanish translation. This multilingual approach emphasises the universal character of poetry and its ability to transcend borders.
This project, conceived by the Chilean art collective Casagrande in response to bombings, has previously taken place in cities such as Madrid, London, Berlin and Warsaw. The event not only honoured this history but also connected the power of poetry to the collective memory.