A Tribute to Wislawa Szymborska

ArtPolonia invites you to a free evening in celebration of the Polish Nobel-prize-winning poetess Wislawa Szymborska, who died on 2nd February this year, with a screening of a documentary and bilingual poetry readings by prominent Irish poetesses. The event is on Friday 9th March at 7pm in the LIR Theatre, Pearse Street, Grand Canal Quay, Dublin 2 (*NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE & DAY FROM FIRST ADVERTISED). RSVP by 7th of March at the latest, at www.cfcp.ie/szymborska

The Nobel award committee's 1996 citation called Szymborska the "Mozart of poetry," a woman who mixed the elegance of language with "the fury of Beethoven" and tackled serious subjects with humor. Don't miss this special chance to become closer acquainted with a giant of Polish culture.
Click here for more info about the CFCP or visit www.thelir.ie to learn about the venue.

Russia and the Renaissance: History, Artistic Tradition, and Cultural Identity

Talk by Dr Anatole Tchikine, Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Trinity College Dublin / The International Studies Institute, Florence

Date: Saturday, 25 February 2012,
Venue: National Gallery of Ireland, Lecture Theatre
Time: 1 p.m.

Russia did not have the Renaissance, but did it need to? Both the country’s fifteenth-century ruling elite and some later historians seemed to think that it did. This lecture explores the adaptation of Renaissance ideas and forms in Russian art and architecture of the 15th and 16th centuries, stressing their role as a means of dynastic and political propaganda. By contrast with this eclectic and superficial style, the works of Andrei Rublev and his contemporaries appear to be the products of a native artistic tradition, stifled by the growth of Western influences and the increasing secularisation of art. 

All welcome-free admission.

Dublin Festival of Russian Culture

 

The Dublin Festival of Russian Culture returns 20th - 24th February 2012 with a packed programme!


Trinity events:

Tuesday 21st February

10.00  "A year in Russia: An Irish Student's perspective" TCD Undergraduate talk followed by What do we know about Russia? Secondary School's Transition Year Quiz at The Wood Quay Venue, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8. With thanks to Jaffo, the National Aquatic Centre & Viking Splash Tours for sponsored prizes and goodie bags.

  

18:30 - 20.00   Literary Reading in the Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin. The theme 'What unites us' will take listeners on a bilingual tour of Russian and Irish literature from classics of the 19th century through the lyrical, symbolical and experimental writings of the 20th century and modern era. Featuring Irish and Russian native speaker readers from the Russian department and beyond, with musical performances and a wine reception. Come one, come all!

Wednesday 22nd February

19.00 Discussion: Contemporary Russia: Political, Economic, Commercial and Social Aspects in the Arts Block of Trinity College Dublin, room 2041: SL

Thursday 23rd February

18:30 - 20.00 Public Lecture on Russian Culture in the Arts Building, room 5039, Trinity College Dublin. The department's own Connie Opitz presents a flavoursome tour of Russian food and festivities. All welcome.

Don't forget to check out the full programme for more gallery events, talks, film screenings, family days and literary readings... 

Specialist Waterstones Russian bookshop in London

Waterstones is to open a Russian-language "bookshop" within its flagship London Piccadilly store in February. The high street bookseller was bought by Russian oligarch Alexander Mamut’s A&NN Group in June last year, and the businessman was behind the idea to open the new bookshop—which will be called "Slova", Russian for "words".

It will be based on Piccadilly’s ground floor mezzanine level and contain nearly 5,000 titles, taking up 1,200 sq ft of space. Mamut also has a stake in Azbooka-Atticus, a Russian publisher, whose titles Waterstones will stock in Slova along with other Russian-language titles and Russian books in translation, covering areas such as history, art, poetry, fiction, biography and children’s. Slova will also be working closely with Academia Rossica, the Russian culture and arts foundation based in London, in planning author events, book launches and other activities.

Pub night tomorrow, Wed, 25th Jan

Please join us for the first of the fortnightly Departmental pub nights. From 8.30 in Kennedy's. Nuff said.

Next dates: 8th February, 22nd February, 7th March, 21st March, 4th April.

'Chudo' Book Launch

The 'Inspiration' Centre of Russian Language and Culture invites you to the Irish launch of Olga Tolmacheva's collection of short stories 'Chudo' (in English 'Wonder' or 'Miracle'), with an exhibition of watercolours by the artist Tatyana Tsarik. The event will be held at 7pm on the 21st January 2012, in 'Inspiration, Muckross Park, Marlborough Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4. 


 Olga Tolmacheva is a psychologist, journalist, writer and former television presenter, and this event offers Irish readers a rare opportunity to meet a contemporary Russian author and gain insight into the modern Russian literary world - to read a Russian-language interview with the author click here.

For more information on the event, and the work of the Inspiration Centre, visit their website www.inspirationdublin.com or email inspirationdublin@gmail.com

The Bulgarian Foreign Minister at Trinity

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov visited Trinity College on 23rd November and held a meeting at the Long Room Hub with members of the Department of Russian and Slavonic Studies and the Bulgarian students of Trinity College.  


Following a brief welcoming speech from the Head of School Dr. Sarah Smyth, and a speech in Bulgarian by Dr. John Murray, Mr Mladenov held a question-and-answer session with Bulgarian students studying at Trinity, and met some of Irish students currently studying Bulgarian with the department. 


The meeting was also attended by the Bulgarian Ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency Emil Yalnazov, and the Bulgarian Lector at the Department of Russian and Slavonic Studies, Dr Rossen Stoichkov.


Click here for information on the department's Bulgarian course.
Photo: Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov with Sarah Smyth.