Over the past years, #saytheirnames has become widespread. Why is saying a name so important? Kay Em explores what it means to say, to not say, or to not be able to say someone’s name. Guatemalan artist Benvenuto Chavajay speaks to indigenous language, misnaming, and silence, and curator Andrea Valencia reflects upon names not included in the 9/11 Memorial in New York. This episode ends with artist Nicoline van Harskamp speaking about her project My Name is Language.

PILOT SEASON
The episodes are scripted in English and include excerpts in Dutch, Spanish, and Arabic with English interpretations. The episodes are available with subtitles in English on our YouTube channel. Dutch subtitles will be available soon.

SEASON ONE
The storyboard for upcoming episodes is in development! If you would like to share a story about a name—or even about the culture of naming in general—to consider for a future episode, please email us: podcast@kunstinstituutmelly.nl.

CREDITS
The episodes of the pilot season of Names Takes were written by Sarah Demeuse and Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy, and narrated by Kay Em, who is performed by Aqueene Wilson, the 2020-2021 Collective Learning in Practice (CLIP) Program Fellow at Kunstinstituut Melly. Jurith Schols is the voice talent of select citations. The podcast’s voice recording, mixing, and original music has been developed by Jan Pohl at Okapi Recordings in Rotterdam. The audio files were mastered by Masterenzo Mastering. Production management was overseen by Wendy van Slagmaat Bos, and communication and marketing by Jeroen Lavèn. The graphic design of Name Takes is by Wooseok Jang from Orange Slice Type, who participated in the third annual edition of CLIP, from 2020 to 2021.

The pilot season of Name Takes is produced by Kunstinstituut Melly in Rotterdam, thanks to a grant from a donor who wishes to remain unnamed. Really. If you are interested in sponsoring Name Takes or in making a donation to support its production, whether under your name or credited anonymously, please reach out: support@kunstinstituutmelly.nl.

1. Name Giving

Name TakesBy Kunstinstituut MellyJul 27, 2021