On December 8, the State Museum of the History of Belarusian Literature opened a literary and documentary exhibition "... Again on the wave of time. Inextinguishable stars of ‘Polymia’", dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the oldest Belarusian magazine.
The exhibition was prepared as part of the joint project to perpetuate the memory of writers of the interwar generation "On the wave of time, throughout the life", which is being created by National Library of Belarus, the State Museum of the History of Belarusian Literature, the Belarusian State Archive-Museum of Literature and Art and the Publishing House "Zviazda" (newspaper "LiM"), honoring the 100th anniversary of the “Maladniak” literary association.
The magazine "Polymia" is a legendary publication that has published many outstanding names of Belarusian literature. At its origins was the literary elite – Yanka Kupala, Yakub Kolas, Tishka Gartny, whose anniversaries fall on 2022, and later – Maxim Tank. The editorial board of the magazine introduced aspiring authors, members of the literary association "Maladniak" to the work, and as a result, more than one generation of talented writers grew up on the pages of "Polymia". Among them are Zmitrok Biadulia, Ales Gurlo, Pavlyuk Trus, Yevgenia Pflaumbaum, Mikhas Zaretsky, Anatoly Volny, Andrey Aleksandrovich, Yazep Puscha, Mikola Nikonovich and others. The magazine first published the novels "Ludzi na balotse" by Ivan Melezh, "Ptushki i Gnezdy" by Yanki Bryl, "Sertsa na daloni" by Ivan Shamyakin, "Kalasy pad syarpam tvaim" by Vladimir Korotkevich, and plays by Andrei Makarevich. Today, the magazine is still in demand, and publication in "Polymia" is a confirmation of the quality mark of the work.
The exposition "... Again on the wave of time. Inextinguishable stars of ‘Polymia’" gives an opportunity to get acquainted with a number of valuables – books with gift inscriptions and autographs, manuscripts, "Maladniak" questionnaires, graphic sheets of the artist Anatoly Tychina with images of Minsk, posters of Belarusian films based on the works of writers, photographs and personal belongings. Among the exhibits, the main character of the event – the magazine "Polymya", its anniversary issues and awards, as well as a large model of the first issue of the publication with a famous cover designed by artist Mikhail Filippovich-takes pride of place.
A number of institutions are involved in the creation of the exhibition: the Museum of the History of Belarusian Cinema, the Belarusian State Archive of Film and Photographic Documents, the National Historical Museum of Belarus, the publishing house "Mastatskaja Litaratura", the editorial office of the magazine "Polymia", the National Film Studio "Belarusfilm", as well as partner institutions of the project "On the wave of time, throughout the life". Among the exhibits are books from the collections of the National Library of Belarus: 1925 collections of poems from the series “Knizhnitsa ‘Maladniaka’” – "Ranitsa Rykae" by Yazep Puscha and "Chornakudraya Radast" by Anatol Volny with the author's autograph; a collection of short stories from 1925 "Pershy Paystanak" by Symon Hursik; as well as books by the poetess Zinaida Bondarina, Yevgenia Pfliaumbaum and other authors.
Amazing impressions were left from the unusual opening of the exhibition. Its curator Irina Kniazeva, a senior researcher at the scientific and exhibition department of the Museum of the History of Belarusian Literature, "revived" the time and brought everyone present back 100 years. This was achieved thanks to the entourage of the exhibition, skillfully selected exhibits, frames of a unique newsreel created by the Belarusian film studio, Irina Rostislavovna's own costume designed in the style of fashionable ladies of the early twentieth century.
The event was attended by Ales Karliukevich, director – editor-in-chief of the Zviazda Publishing House, chairman of the Writers' Union of Belarus, who recalled the history of Polymia, remembered the people who were related to the publication, and expressed confidence that the magazine's life will continue.
Viktor Shnip, poet and editor-in-chief of the magazine "Polymia", performed his verse “Praistci praz ‘Polymia’”, in which he listed a number of works published in the publication in different years, drawing attention to the fact that all significant works of our literature passed through "Polymia".
The exhibition features materials about many "Maladniak" and "Polymia" related individuals: Anatol Volny, Yazep Puscha, Ales Gurlo, Mikola Nikonovich, Natalia Vishnevskaja, Yadviga Beganskaja... Viktor Zhibul, poet, literary critic, leading researcher of the Belarusian State Archive-Museum of Literature and Art, partner of the project "On the wave of time, in the flow of life", spoke about the personalities of writers and their versatile creative talents.
Aksana Danilchik, a poet, literary critic, and well-known researcher of women's poetry in the 1920s, recalled Yevgenia Pfliaumbaum, whose 115th birthday will be celebrated in November 2023.
Yulia Amosova, Chief Bibliographer of the Special Collections Department of the National Library of Belarus, spoke about the achievements of the project "On the wave of time, throughout the life" and its popularization activities.
The National Library wishes the magazine "Polymia" constant development and prosperity, many new authors and preservation of the traditions of Belarusian literature!
The Exhibition "... Again on the wave of time. Inextinguishable stars of ‘Polymia’" is available until February 25, 2023 at the State Museum of the History of Belarusian Literature.
We also invite you to the book exhibition of the National Library of Belarus “Burn and blaze with sparks!”, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the magazine "Polymia".
Photography by Svetlana Zaiko.
The article is provided by the Gallery and Exhibition and the Information and Analytical Departments.
