Poetry International x Codarts: Poetic Compositions

In this new collaboration Poetry International connects three Codarts music students to three international poets. Based on the poets' work, the students compose a new and experimental piece of music. On Friday we witness Nadine Rypkema's presentation based on the work of poet Maricela Guerrero (MEX).  

Together with her troupe consisting of about five women, Nadine gives form to five eco-poetic, feminist poems by Maricela during the presentation through electronic soundscapes, spoken word and percussive harp music. With her piece, she takes the audience into the world that Guerrero's poems have opened for her. 

Maricela Guerrero

Maricela Guerrero is a Mexican poet and writer whose work explores the intersections of nature, community, and language. After earning a Master’s degree in Latin American Literature from UNAM, she published her debut poetry collection Desde las ramas una guacamaya in 2006. Her later works include Se llaman nebulosas (2010), De lo perdido, lo hallado (2015), and El sueño de toda célula (2018), which won the Clemencia Isaura Prize. Since 2018, she has been a member of Mexico’s National Network of Art Creators. 

Guerrero’s poetry is rooted in the natural world and often blends scientific and lyrical language. She examines how we relate to nature and each other, while maintaining a critical view of social structures. Her recent work also engages with themes such as queerness, gender, and youth, including her first novel Bronce dorado (2023). Her poems have been translated into English, French, German, and Swedish.

Nadine Rypkema

Based in Rotterdam, 21-year-old Nadine Rypkema is a composer, guitarist, word artist and biologist by training. For Nadine, art is a constant investigation: she translates her many fascinations and observations into poetic, narrative texts and surprising compositions. Through poetry, theatrical elements and tension between acoustic and electronic music, she tries to expose the beauty in scientific and prosaic themes. With her work, Nadine aims to take the audience by the hand and inspire them to find solace in the everyday. With her background in the classical guitar tradition, her training in jazz composition and her love of theater and language, she knows how to hold her listeners' attention on stage from beginning to end.