On Wednesday 27 November 2024 at 19:30, the KNAW invites you to an exceptional evening where poetry and mathematics intersect at the historic Trippenhuis, Kloveniersburgwal 29, Amsterdam. The central question of the evening explores whether art and science once spoke a shared language — a language that captured both the mysteries of the universe and pressing societal issues. Before the Middle Ages, there was no sharp division between poet, scholar, and philosopher; together, they shaped a unified worldview. Over the centuries, however, scientific and literary languages diverged, creating a divide that often prevents their practitioners from understanding each other today.
According to classicist and poet Piet Gerbrandy, this is a missed opportunity, as both art and science draw on similar cognitive faculties. Whether writing poetry, composing music, formulating mathematical proofs, or drafting legal statutes, we all use analogies, metaphors, and imagination. This evening program offers a rare opportunity to explore these intersections and build new connections between these domains.
Initiated by Gerbrandy, the Academy of Arts presents a series of three evenings where poetry and various scientific disciplines come together for mutual inspiration. This first session on November 27 brings poetry and mathematics into dialogue.
The evening will feature short lectures by mathematician Walter van Suijlekom and medievalist Frits van Oostrom, followed by poetry readings from Rozalie Hirs and Nachoem M. Wijnberg. Under the guidance of classicist Tazuko van Berkel, the speakers will then engage in a discussion with each other and the audience, seeking new insights and shared inspiration. Piet Gerbrandy will give a brief introduction to the series.
Date: November 27, 2024
Door time: 19:30 uur
Location: KNAW, Trippenhuis, Kloveniersburgwal 29, Amsterdam
Participants: Tazuko van Berkel, Piet Gerbrandy, Rozalie Hirs, Frits van Oostrom, Walter van Suijlekom, Nachoem M. Wijnberg