BADA BING began as a question: how to present a poetry book in a way that felt alive.What started as a reading for Verboden Rijst quickly expanded into an evening where different forms could meet. Together with my brother, we imagined a night that unfolded in phases. You arrive after work, step into an exhibition,…
I stepped out of the metro at Wibautstraat and noticed a small Japanese onigiri stand inside the station. A familiar sight, in an unexpected place. One of my favorite poems from Verboden Rijst is called Smiling Onigiri. The connection was immediate. Amsterdam and Japan meeting underground, in a station I’ve passed through countless times. I…
If you’re curious why I ended up in Tokyo without a suitcase,how to have deep conversations with onigiri,or which graveyard is best for making friendsmy debut poetry book is out now. Verboden rijst is a collection of poetry written during a three-month solo journey through Japan and parts of Asia. Most of the poems are…