Culture is important even in times of war, say Ukrainian cultural workers at the Leipzig Book Fair. There is a wide selection of literature and topics at the Ukraine exhibition stand.
The new violent attacks by Russia on the Ukrainian capital Kiev are watching the people at the Ukraine trade fair stand in Leipzig with great concern. The war is also a topic at the book fair.
There have been no such violent attacks for weeks, says Yulia Kozlovets. She heads the renowned Mystetsky Arsenal cultural and museum complex in Kiev. And she organizes it Despite the war, the Kiev Book Fair continues with: “The situation in the country is difficult. But we carry on, this is our form of resistance.”
Literature in times of war
Together with the Goethe-Institut Ukraine and the Ukrainian Institute in Berlin, they look after the national stand of Ukraine at the Leipzig Book Fair. Clearly visible from afar, a banner with a blue-yellow sunflower attracts trade fair visitors to the stand. Ukrainian books in German and Ukrainian invite you to browse.
Ukrainian literature and culture are important even in times of war, says Kozlovets: “If the news about the war no longer reaches people, we have to focus on culture.” Culture is what sticks with people: books, poems, exhibitions. “Like here at the Leipzig Book Fair. Here it is possible to tell our stories in a language that everyone understands.”
Diaries and poems on social media
The organizers brought freshly printed books from Ukraine to Leipzig. And works that have just been published in German translation – including diaries and volumes of poetry. In the first months of the Russian war of aggression, many Ukrainian authors could only write about the war on social media.
Like Serhij Zhadan, for example, who reports daily on Facebook about the Russian attacks on Kharkiv, the escape to the bunker and the support of the army. His diary entries were published in the volume “Heaven over Kharkiv” in Germany.
The war and life
At the book fair in Leipzig, the national stand of Ukraine presents a wide selection of literature and topics. What’s special: Many books talk about resistance, but not all of them are about war.
Ukrainian culture has much more to offer, says Kateryna Rietz-Rakul, head of the Ukrainian Institute in Berlin: “Despite the war, life goes on, there are book fairs, exhibitions in Ukraine, new books are coming out, there is book design awards.” It will continue to be written, designed and lived. Not allowing yourself to be defeated is also a form of resistance.
Concern for further support for Ukraine
Ukraine’s national stand is not only supported by the Leipzig Book Fair. The city of Leipzig, whose twin city is Kiev, also provides financial support.
This is a good signal, says Fabian Mühlthaler, head of the Goethe-Institut Ukraine. But it was also clear to him: A Ukrainian program is important, but it doesn’t win the war. Even if there is support for programs like the Ukraine Stand, there is still justifiable concern “that this struggle of resistance by Ukrainians will fade into the background a bit,” said Mühlthaler.
“When you now hear various political voices demanding that we be a little more careful with arms deliveries, there is talk of the conflict freezing. This is seen in Ukraine with very, very great concern and also rejection.” Mühlthaler says he can understand this concern and also this rejection.
At least the organizers don’t have to worry about one thing: Ukraine will not be forgotten, at least not at the Leipzig Book Fair.
Kristine Harthauer, SWR, tagesschau, March 22, 2024 5:56 p.m