SOUND IN THE SILENCE
History through art
Sound in the Silence is a global, multicultural project that empowers young people to connect across borders and generations through the transformative power of art and history. By blending experiential education with artistic expression, we foster empathy, understanding, and creativity while honoring complex historical narratives. Through location-based workshops and public performances, we cultivate a culture of remembrance and resistance, inspiring participants to reflect on the past and shape a more just and connected future.
We envision a world where art serves as a bridge across cultures and histories, fostering intercultural understanding, justice, and empathy. Through immersive, location-based workshops, Sound in the Silence transforms historical education into a living, breathing process that empowers young people to engage deeply with difficult histories, connect personally to one another, and champion a culture of remembrance. By amplifying voices and fostering creativity, we aim to inspire a global movement that values connection, resilience, and the transformative power of creative expression.
Sound in the Silence was co-founded by Dan Wolf and Jens Huckeriede, and developed in partnership with the European Network Remembrance and Solidarity in Warsaw, the MOTTE in Hamburg, and Ravensbrück concentration camp memorial site in Germany.
Special thanks to artists Kat Rampackova and Sean Palmer for their vision and talent in developing the creative methodology.
Exploring Romania’s Communist History
In October 2024, students from Poland, Romania, Germany, and the Czech Republic came together in Bucharest to delve into Romania's 20th-century history. From the World Wars to the communist era and the oppressive Ceausescu regime, they explored the layers of history that shaped the nation.
The journey culminated at the Pitesti Prison Memorial, a haunting site of one of the most brutal experiments in modern history. Under the guidance of artists Dan Wolf (Creative Writing), Kat Rampackova (Dance), and Sean Palmer (Vocals), the students channeled their reflections into a moving final performance, using the former prison as their stage.
Filmed and edited by Rafał Kudyba, this video captures the power of creativity to confront history and inspire new understanding.
Discover the Power of Remembrance Through Art
This compelling video, premiered at the HISTOLAB Innovation Days conference in Strasbourg, France, in April 2024, takes you on a profound journey through history, blending experiential education with artistic expression.
The video highlights four powerful editions of Sound in the Silence, each rooted in a historic site of past tragedies:
Kaunas 9th Fort, Lithuania (2022)
Mauthausen/Gusen/St. Georgen, Austria (2022)
The House of the Wannsee Conference, Germany (2023)
Jasenovac Memorial, Croatia (2023)
Through these poignant projects, Sound in the Silence transforms each location into a living tapestry of art and performance, preserving history, inspiring reflection, and ensuring the echoes of the past remain a powerful, resonant force
Watch now and experience the unforgettable connection between art and memory.
New Ways In The Culture Of Remembrance
Art, Memory, and Transformation: Ravensbrück Through a New Lens
How can art preserve the stories of the Holocaust in a world without survivors? In this compelling multimedia experience, discover how the Ravensbrücker Generationenforum and Sound in the Silence came together in 2019 to bring young people, Holocaust survivors, and artists to the Ravensbrück Concentration Camp Memorial. Over a week of historical education and creative exploration, participants used sound, dance, and rap to craft a powerful performance rooted in the history and memories of the site.
Listen to the German radio feature to hear firsthand how creativity bridges generations.
Read the English transcript to explore the story in depth.
Watch Dennis Stoecker’s film for a moving visual documentation of the transformative process.
Click now to experience this unique journey of remembrance and reflection.
MORE VIDEOS
Past editions include Neuengamme (Germany, 2011), Borne Solinowo (Poland, 2013), Gdansk/Stutthof (Poland, 2015), Auschwitz/Zilina (Poland/Slovakia, 2016), Ravensbrück (Germany, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024), Warsaw (Poland, 2018),
Bunker Valentine (Germany, 2019), Kaunas 9th Fort (Lithuania, 2022), Mauthausen/Gusen/St. Georgen (Austria, 2022),
House of the Wannsee Conference (Germany, 2023), Jasenovic Memorial (Croatia, 2023), and Pitesti Prison (Romania, 2024).
In addition, pilot programs have been run in the US with Envision Academy (2018, Oakland, Ca) focusing on the legacy of the Black Panthers and with Ruth Asawa School of the Arts (2019, San Francisco, Ca) focusing on the legacy of Angel Island.
What Participants Are Saying
“I can learn, but I’m not learning it like in school. I’m actually listening and seeing things, and they just work better in my mind.”
— Iris, Romania
“When we were in the rooms where it actually happened, you just feel it deep down, and it really sets in, people had to go through this.”
— Isaac, USA
“We feel like art is the best way to convey such a difficult message.”
— Maria Axinte, Founder Pitesti Prison Memorial
“Art is a bridge between people that connects us”
— Karolina, Germany