This article is an interview with Ukrainian writer Yuri Andrukhovych, conducted by Kate Tsurkan of The Kyiv Independent. Here are the main points from the conversation:
* Yuri discusses the challenges faced by Ukrainian poets during the Soviet era, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s when many were arrested, imprisoned, or killed.
* He notes that the situation was a form of neo-Stalinism, characterized by oppressive policies and censorship.
* The conversation then shifts to the current cultural landscape in Ukraine, with Yuri highlighting the growth of new publishing houses, literary festivals, and readership since 2014.
* He also mentions the flourishing of contemporary Ukrainian theater, visual arts, film, and cinematography.
* Yuri’s poetry collection “Set Change” is discussed, featuring selected poems from his early career. The collection was published by the New York Review of Books and marks a significant achievement for Ukrainian literature in translation.
Overall, the interview provides insight into the challenges faced by Ukrainian writers during the Soviet era and the current cultural landscape in Ukraine.
