Conference “Vizma Belševica and Freedom of Speech” – the author’s work from a modern point of view / Article

On May 27, in honor of the 90th anniversary of Vizma Belševica, an online scientific and creative conference “Vizma Belševica and Freedom of Expression” will take place. Offering a contemporary view of the work of the poet, prose writer and translator Belševica, the creators of the conference hope to re-introduce her name to the general public. The program also includes readings and interpretations of Vizma Belševica’s poetry by contemporary poets.

Speaking about the conference “Vizma Belševica and Freedom of Expression” organized by the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia, the poet Anna Auziņa recalls a 15-year-old event on the Latvian Radio program “Kultūras rondo” – a conference dedicated to Belševica. Its main directions are academic research and contemporaries’ memories of the poet who has passed away. The 90th anniversary of Vizma Belševica encourages a new look at her work.

Now researchers are also interested in director Ināra Kolmane’s full-length screenplay “Bille”.

Among the speakers are the younger generation of literary scholars.

The conference will be extended throughout the day, with the scientific part moving to the creative part in the evening. Auziņa sketches – in the first half of the day 14 reports are planned in four sections: “In the morning the first will be a poetry section, then a prose section. The third section will be devoted to translations, with reports on the work of Vizma’s own translator, Ivars Šteinbergs’ report on the coolness of Vizma, and reports on translations of Vizma into other languages, more specifically by guest Mirja Hovila from Finland, who translated Billi into Finnish. The fourth section, entitled “Vizma Lives on”, will feature reports on Belševica’s film screenings, memoirs and museum collections. “

The discussion “Vizma and the present” will bridge the bridge from the scientific part of the conference to the creative one.

In the readings “Poet” we will experience the interpretations of six contemporary poets – Inese Zandere, Inga Gaile, Ingmara Balode, Ausma Perons, Katrīna Rudzīte and Marija Luīze Melke – about the texts of Belševica selected by her. “They are poets of different generations – [..] some have known Vizma Belševica during her lifetime, but the youngest participant Marija Luīze Melķe was still a child when Belševica passed away in 2005, ”says Anna Auziņa.

She sees that these six poets, Belševica, and her motives are very important.

The poetry of Vizma Belševica will also be read by Baiba Broka and Guna Zariņa. The creative part will be enriched by music performed by the group “Zāle” and Ilze Grunte.

Online will be provided by the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia (LU) “Facebook” a “YoutubeAdditional information: LU Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art Homepage and Facebook account.

Asked whether the spirit of Vizma Belševica’s spirit still lives among the young writers, the poet Auziņa answers in the affirmative: Thursday’s event could bring Vizma Belševica back to the forefront among readers and listeners. [..]

It is our job not to forget Vizma Belševica. ”

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