To illustrate the people behind the written words, Goethe-Institut Australia invited authors, writers, word artists and poets from Germany and Australia to talk about their work, ideas, and experiences. The interviews were captured with a small camera in various locations around Sydney throughout 2010 and 2011. Enjoy!
Video Interviews: Writers in Australia
Jess Cook is a Sydney-based poet and artist. The interview was conducted at the former warehouse space Hibernian House, where she lives and works among many other artists. The building's rooftop serves as the stage for her piece How to Turn a Poem Into Ink.
Michelle Cahill is of Goan-Anglo-Indian background, but now resides in Australia. She chats about her work as an author and journal editor, the migrant experience, Asian-Australian literature and its representation in the local scene, and about being an artist and mother. In the end, she recites her poem Night Birds.
Randall Stephens is a poet who lives in Melbourne, but constantly travels the world to perform live. Having just returned from a series of performances and workshops in South-East Asia, he reports about his experiences in places such as Borneo, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Furthermore, he reveals some tips and tricks for emerging writers and performs his piece I Statements.
Video Interviews: Writers in Germany
Bas Böttcher is a Berlin-based word artist who visited Australia as part of the Berlin Dayz festival. Being an internationally acclaimed Slam Poet, he talks about performances in exotic places such as trains, busses, ships and the rooftop of the Bogotá planetarium.
Erica Fischer is an Austrian-born writer who relocated to Berlin several years ago. In the interview she talks about her book Aimée & Jaguar and how the controversial topic of homosexuality during the Nazi years in Germany is being received in various countries.
