Maria van Daalen, born in Voorburg, the Netherlands, in 1950. M.A. from VU University Amsterdam. Author in Almere, the Netherlands.
Writer-in-Residence (1 February 2010 – 30 June 2010)
BETWEEN PLASMA AND QUEST
My eighth volume of poetry is structured according to the Periodic Table of Elements – it has no end as yet, but is likely not ‘never-ending’. My poetic drive to name all that exists in this universe, this way flows together naturally with ‘endlessness’.
My project title “Between plasma and quest”, will possibly be the subtitle to the Dutch “Liefde, eindeloos licht” (‘Love, endless light’), [Querido].
In my view, the universe is a dance; I found this also mentioned in the works of philosophers (such as Plotinus), poets and scientists. Thanks to NIAS’ excellent library service I could read it all. My quiet but busy stay at NIAS was greatly inspirational for my writing and my poetry project.
The eight Poetry Salons and the MUSE @NIAS lectures that I initiated and organised, contributed to forging contact with colleague-Fellows and were a great success. (Some Fellows will now even publish their own art work.)