2008
– THE YEAR OF ZBIGNIEW HERBERT
The Year of Zbigniew Herbert was
declared by the Sejm [lower house of parliament] on the 10th
anniversary of the death of one of the greatest Polish poets.
An
excerpt from the Resolution reads, "In an age of crisis of values
and painful despair, he stood firmly by his principles: in art—the
canon of beauty, hierarchy, and craftsmanship, in life—codes of
ethics clearly distinguishing between good and evil. [...] To the
Polish language he brought a formula-commandment—the words "Badz
wierny. Idz." ["Be faithful. Go."]
The motto of the year is the quotation:
"We mnie jest płomień, który myśli"
["Inside me is a flame which thinks"] from the poem "Napis"
["Inscription"].
Coordination of the most important
projects has been entrusted to the Biblioteka Narodowa [National
Library in Warsaw], where the legacy of the author of "Mr. Cogito"
has been housed since December, 2006.
There will be both national and local
projects celebrating the Prince of Poets. Information on all the
projects are available from a special website,
http://www.herbert2008.pl .
The central events prepared by the
National Library in the Year Of Herbert include:
HERBERTIAN DEBATES
The National Library (Palace of the
Republic, Plac Krasińskich in Warsaw) is
holding 10 monthly Herbertian Debates. The debates are open to the
general public, and will be devoted to different aspects of the
poet's life and work, including the reception of his works in
Europe, his fascination with antiquity, his travels, his attachment
to traditional patriotism, his involvement in political and social
matters, his spirituality, etc. The primary aim of the debates is to
continue Herbert’s thought—invited panelists will explore the topics
and themes which were especially close to Herbert’s heart. Those
remaining are:
6th debate - July 2, 2008 -
Skąd te głosy? Herbert w teatrze
[Where are the voices coming from Herbert in theater]
7th debate - September 10, 2008 -
Duchowa geografia Europy [The spiritual geography of Europe}
8th debate - October 15, 2008 -
Czemu wyraz sztuka daje? [What does art express?]. A debate with
an exhibition of paintings inspired by Herbert’s life and work
9th debate - November 12, 2008 -
Literatura i metafizyka [Literature and metaphysics]
10th debate - December 3, 2008 -
Kochanowski czy Słowacki?
[Kochanowski or Slowacki?]
"HERBERT-NORWID" EXHIBITION
This exhibition, held under the
patronage of the Polish President, is the first presentation of
drawings by Cyprian Kamil Norwid and Zbigniew Herbert from the
National Library collection. The exhibition was on display at the
Palace of the Republic in April and May, 2008.
OPEN-AIR PERFORMANCE
On July 26, 2008, two days before the
10th anniversary of the poet’s death, there will be a several-hour
outdoor performance and a multimedia show on the facade
of the Palace of the Republic, Plac Krasińskich in Warsaw.
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE
A three-day international scientific
conference has been prepared for December 11-12, 2008, two years
after the National Library received the poet’s legacy, organized by
the National Library, the Institute of Literary Research of the
Polish Academy of Sciences, and the Book Institute, devoted to
Herbert and in particular to the reception of his work in Poland and
other countries of Central and Eastern Europe (including Lithuania,
Ukraine, Hungary, Germany, etc.), Western Europe, and America.
MONOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION
This exhibition will be opened in
conjunction with the international scientific conference in December
2008, and will present, for the first time, the Zbigniew Herbert
Archive now housed in the National Library. The exhibition will be
accompanied by a presentation of the "Zbigniew Herbert Archive
Inventory." Starting from December, the Herbert collection will
gradually start being made available to literary researchers.
PERFORMANCE AT THE NATIONAL THEATER
The premiere of a full-length
production based on Herbert’s poetry and directed by Piotr Cieplak
has been planned for December, 2008, at the Teatr Narodowy [National
Theater]. The show will remain in the theater’s regular repertoire.
OTHER PLANNED PROJECTS
The exhibition "Podróże
Pana Cogito" ["The Travels of Mr. Cogito"] prepared by
Warsaw’s Adam Mickiewicz Museum of Literature (until October 5,
2008).
"Herbertiada," the 9th National
Review of the Work of Zbigniew Herbert in Kolobrzeg in September,
2008.
Pora prozy [Prose Season], a cyclic
project of the Book Institute, this year dedicated to the work of
Herbert (October 15-18, 2008).
HERBERT PROGRAM OF THE MINISTRY
OF CULTURE AND NATIONAL HERITAGE
Many local and community initiatives
are taking place in the Year of Herbert. They will be supported by a
special program of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
(MKiDN) called "Herbert," coordinated on behalf of the Ministry by
the National Library.
Under the program, supplementary
funding is provided to the best projects celebrating the poet’s life
and work, disseminating and popularizing his output. The program
supports various publications, scientific and popular conferences,
exhibitions, workshops, literary meetings, trips, media and
multimedia presentations, competitions, stage productions of his
plays and shows based on his poetry, and also research initiatives
and biographical and bibliographical publications.
Funds from the program are available to
local governments, national and local public cultural institutions,
state archives, churches and religious communities, primary and
secondary state and non-state artistic schools, as well as artistic
university-level schools, state and non-state schools of higher
learning, nongovernmental organizations, and business entities not
included in the public finance sector.
Specialist and organizational
supervision of the planned events is provided by the Organizing
Committee chaired by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage,
Bogdan Zdrojewski.
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