Getting closer…

Olha Kobylianska is considered to be not only a classic of Ukrainian literature, but also one of the prominent figures of European literature. However, her creative work has not been thoroughly studied yet. In fall of this year (November 27) Ukraine will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the writer’s birth.

On the day of commemorating Olha Kobylianska Svitlana KYRYLIUK, Ph.D. in Philology, assistant professor of the Department of Ukrainian Literature at the Yurii Fedkovych National University in Chernivtsi, told The Day about the great writer:

“The main goal of researching the creative work of an individual author (all the more one of such magnitude) is to try to ‘get closer’ to him or her. But, as a rule we know very little about the authors who are very famous. I mean primarily the knowledge as the understanding of their creativity, openness to its perception. It is very easy to see during the celebrations of the anniversaries of such people and large scale events organized to pay tribute to their work and personal achievements.”

What is the reason for that?

“It is impossible to fully read and comprehend all the works of the writer today since the complete (which is, in fact, far from being complete) edition of her literary heritage was published almost half a century ago and today it can be considered almost a rarity. Dairies of the author, first published in 1982 titled The Words of the Touched Heart, are also a rarity. For decades they remained neglected by literary criticism, as well as the religious motifs in her work, to say nothing of her early works, which hasn’t been ever published and are still ‘hidden’ in academic collections. And this is a whole layer of the writer’s novels written in German – in fact, these are the works with which Olha Kobylianska began her literary career. Because of these facts Kobylianska, just like many other Ukrainian classics, remains the author whose writing is being read but is not fully understood.”

How would you characterize this layer of her early works?

“Practically the most important period in life and formation of Kobylianska as a writer was the time she spent in Campulung, which is now part of Romania. In her literary career this period is defined by the creative work from Hortenzy (Hydrangeas) to Tsarivna (Princess), in a broader sense it was a period when the author finally made her choice in favor of writing in Ukrainian after writing prose in German. At the same time it was also the path from ‘sentimental Marlitt style’ to finding her own neoromanticism, asserted by the return ‘back to soul,’ striving to the ‘higher ups,’ the creation of a special type of spiritual ‘aristocracy,’ and so on.

“Thus, the 100th anniversary of the birth of Olha Kobylianska was celebrated globally by the decision of UNESCO. Now the Ukrainian government managed only to issue envelopes and commemorative coin at face value of two hryvnias, which will be released by the National Bank of Ukraine in October. The main festivities will take place in Bukovyna on November 26-27, including literary and art festival ‘Master of Magic Words,’ International Conference, the premiere of the play Zemlia (The Earth) based on the play written by Kobylianska, online conference ‘I was born in Bukovyna,’ week of homeland literature ‘Princess of Ukrainian Literature,’ holiday of Olha Kobylianska Street in Chernivtsi, participation of the Ukrainian delegation from Chernivtsi oblast in the festivities dedicated to the anniversary of the writer’s birth that will take place in Gura Humorului, Romania – the place, where Kobylianska was born. There will also be organized educational readings, exhibitions, drama festival for school students and teachers groups, competition for school art projects on the topic ‘All Thy Thoughts unto Thee, Free People, and the Song of the Heart, Music of the Soul also to Thee,’ as well as other events. It is also planned to publish a book Olha Kobylianska. First Literary Attempts, bibliographic guide Winners of the Olha Kobylianska Literary and Artistic Prize, guide to the museum of the outstanding Bukovyna writer. However, the orders of the state officials do not mention the world’s only museum of the outstanding author, which is in constant need for repairing and extending of its exposition. It seems that the Bukovyna authorities limited their efforts by only assisting in organization of cultural events.”

COMMENTARY

“Who needs the Museum of Olha Kobylianska?”

The Day asked Volodymyr VOZNIUK, director of the Literary Memorial Museum of Olha Kobylianska, poet and researcher, about the life of the museum before the 150th anniversary of the great Ukrainian writer:

“There is nothing new in the fact that museums hardly survive nowadays. Based on the realities and the state’s attitude to culture in general, I have many times considered writing an article titled ‘Who needs the Museum of Olha Kobylianska?’ If you would visit the home of Olha Kobylianska it looks in order and the museum is all festive before the great anniversary celebration – but it’s only the outward impression. But the repair of the internal facilities hasn’t been done for a long time since we do not have funding for that. The amount of money that was allotted for this purpose is extremely low. And the authorities do not even give any promise that they would try to find it. And I’m not even talking about a new museum exposition here, which requires at least 200,000 hryvnias. Artists and designers change because there is no real money. For example, the funding for production of a film about Olha Kobyliansha turned out to be 50,000 hryvnias short. The filming studio ‘Viatel’ that has been working on this film about the great Ukrainian author wrote an official letter to the Oblast State Administration, where they invite patrons to assist in finishing the film production. Natalka Sopit, author and TV presenter from Chernivtsi, and film director Vasyl Viter work on the film production. The shooting of the film took place in our museum and in the village of Dymka. Perhaps, the closer it will get to the actual date of the anniversary the better things will get, however, there is little hope for that.”