During the KANTL's public afternoon meeting, which marks the start of its working year, a conversation took place between Dirk De Geest and Gillis Dorleijn about Dorleijn's new history of modern poetry, 'Een nieuw geluid'. The book, co-authored with Wiljan van den Akker, is considered a milestone in understanding the poetic revolution from the Tachtigers onwards.
The four-yearly KANTL Prize for Essay was awarded to Joke J. Hermsen for her collection 'Tijd is hoop'. Jury chairman Luc Devoldere described the work as a 'summa of hope', 'erudite and well-written', and a 'magnum opus' that unites philosophy, art, and politics to ward off impending doom. The jury praised Hermsen's 'thoughtful and profound attempt to conceive time as hope' and her call for creativity, critical awareness, and political courage.
In her acceptance speech, Hermsen cautioned against separating art and politics, emphasizing their similar function: engaging in a conversation about the world and 'amor mundi'. She stated that time can carry hope, but it requires commitment and mutual connection.
Jozef Janssens received the Leonard Willemsprijs for his study of older language, literature, and culture (period 2022-2025). He was recognized for his books 'Vertellen is een kunst. De geschiedenis van Karel ende Elegast' (2023) and 'De liederlijke middeleeuwen. De andere kant van de mythe' (2024). Jury chairman Frank Willaert praised Janssens' work ethic, erudition that extends beyond his specialization, and his engaging narrative style that sparks interest in bygone eras.
Willaert highlighted how Janssens successfully combines research, broad erudition, and enthusiastic popularization. In his speech, Janssens underscored the importance of knowledge transfer to laypeople as a form of societal service and a core task of universities and science in general.
