A Ukrainian poet renowned for composing her verse on the frontline of her country's defence against Russia's illegal war is to visit Devon and London to share her experiences and perspectives.
Yaryna Chornohuz has been helping to defend her country from Russian aggression since 2019. She is currently a drone operator and previously took part in fierce battles as a member of the 140th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the Ukrainian Marine Corps at the time of the full-scale invasion of 24 February 2022.
At the same time, her poetry has become so well-regarded that she is now considered among the foremost members of a new generation of Ukrainian wartime poets who have rapidly emerged.
And it will be the relationship between war and art, and the importance of culture in the defence of Ukraine, which will be among the topics of conversation when Ms Chornohuz leads three separate events in November, orchestrated by language experts at the University of Exeter with community partners.
All are part of the Being Human Festival, the nationwide celebration of the humanities, led by the School of Advanced Study at the University of London, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy.
"We are thrilled to be able to bring Yaryna to the UK for these four events under the banner of 'War Poetry as Existential Defence," says Hugh Roberts, Professor of French in the Department of Cultures, Languages and Visual Studies. "She is undoubtedly one of the most prominent voices in what is an extraordinary generation of Ukrainian warrior poets, and it is a great privilege to be able to bring her inspirational story to such distinct audiences - Ukrainian families, UK servicemen and women, and our Exeter community."
Ms Chornohuz will lead three private and public events in Devon, and another in London for the Being Human Festival. The first two, on 10 November, have been specially arranged for Ukrainian refugees and active servicemen and women at the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, respectively.
The following day, Defending the Human in War will be a public event organised in partnership with Exeter UNESCO City of Literature. Ms Chornohuz will take to the stage at Exeter Phoenix to read some of her poetry, and then join Devon poet Fiona Benson and Professor Roberts to discuss some of the challenges and choices that go into English translations. And on 13 November, they will reprise the event organized by the Ukrainian Institute London.
Language scholars at the University have been at the heart of numerous events and projects to support Ukrainian culture since Russia's illegal invasion began in 2022, working with Exeter UNESCO City of Literature. They include the translation and publication of Artur Dron's collection We Were Here; the recording of several readings of wartime poetry; hosting figures from the Ukrainian literature world; and staging poetry workshops for refugees living in the city. Professor Roberts also recently worked with the translator, Amelia Glaser, and Benson on the English edition of Ms Chornohuz's prize-winning collection, [dasein: defence of presence].
