Ipeh Nur - Silent Song

Silent Song is an artistic research project of Ipeh Nur about the colonial history of the Hongi Tochten, the devastating expeditions carried out by the VOC in the Moluccas to control the spice trade. From the perspective of Ternate, Ipeh explores how memories of this period have been passed down through songs and oral traditions, and how they connect to Hoorn as the birthplace of J.P. Coen.

During her residency at Hotel Maria Kapel, she will collect stories, sounds, and images, translating them into a sound installation in which the clove trees regain their “voices” as silent witnesses.

Silent Song is a sound installation that combines recorded oral histories, songs, and environmental sounds collected from Ternate and the local Moluccan community in Hoorn.

A central element of the project is the Singing Kumpulan, a communal singing session that brings together members of the local community to share and experience the cultural and emotional significance of music. During the Kumpulan, participants engage in a singing workshop, explore collective storytelling through sound, and contribute to audio recordings that will become part of the installation. The session concludes with a shared meal, reinforcing community connection and dialogue.

The audio will be part of the final public presentation at Hotel Maria Kapel, allowing local and broader audiences to experience and reflect on the historical narratives, communal participation, and collective memory embedded in the installation.