With the death of Dmitry, the phenomenon of the Kapranov Brothers also ceased to exist
They were inseparable, the Kapranov brothers. Bright memory to one, impulse to a new life to the other. So, it seems that Vitaliy needs to start life over. And you can only imagine how difficult it will be…
The Kapranov brothers at the publishers’ forum
– Don’t even try to distinguish us, just say “brother Kapranov” – that’s how one of the twin brothers reacted to an attempt to find personal features in appearance. And if the Kapranovs really cultivated their similarity, the difference in character between the brothers could be felt during communication. Similar, but different.
On Tuesday, April 16, writer, publisher, musician, journalist and brother Dmytro Kapranov died in Kyiv at the age of 57. “Friends, we are in trouble. Dmytro died suddenly this morning. When and where farewell, I will write tomorrow.” Vitaliy Kapranov said on Facebook. The message stirred the community of friends, acquaintances, readers, viewers, listeners, followers, authors, supporters and opponents too.
The Kapranov brothers quite consciously created their cult. It seems that their parents started creating it. But for the brothers, everything was conceptual – this phrase about “wide fame in a narrow circle” of the Ukrainian cultural elite did not suit them. The Kapranovs are a double carnival and difficult challenges, you wanted to listen to them and discuss with them, but try to do it when there are two of them in front of you – back to back, like Janus. Bright and direct, the Kapranovs took on all directions in culture, to which their heads, hands and strength could reach. And they chose, as a rule, controversial topics or paths.
Almanac “Brothers” #0. Moscow 1991. From the collection of Vakhtang Kipiani
While working in Moscow, they actively Ukrainized the environment and became almost the first famous diasporans in Russia. And, by the way, they learned the language from their grandmother, not at school in Odesa. Then they also published the first one Ukrainian-speaking Almanac “Brothers” with his own works, among other things. Yes, and they have Ukrainian, what then, what today – “viburnum, nightingale, scientific, legal and slang, and musical, and press, erotic, household, political, YouTube, and children’s, and business, entertainment and military, obscene and honorable, because she is alive and just gorgeous” (these and other quotes from the Kapranovs’ Facebook page, order.) And try to argue with that. They are always what they are. Were there…
The Kapranov brothers and their famous green non-dog, a Zaporozhian
Or when it came to their brainchild – the publishing house “Green Dog”, which the brothers founded in the late 90s (what was the state of the Ukrainian publishing business – it’s not worth explaining?) for the publication of popular and mass Ukrainian-language literature, and then added there and distribution of books, and then the “Night of Erotic Poetry” festival, which transitioned into books and vice versa. By the way, the Kapranovs were preparing to resume the festival on April 28, 2024, and on their FB pages, one by two.ribbons introduced the readers to the authors: “We will be responsible for the musical content and perform the functions of sprechstalmeisters (if you know what it is, and if you don’t, you will find out). And as hosts, starting today, we will introduce you to other participants of the “Night of Erotic Poetry”. Because, to the detriment of all enemies, Ukrainians will revive and revive Ukraine. And in this process, there is no way without eroticism.”
It was not the war that got in the way, “all measures are cancelled”…
At one time, the Kapranovs founded their own musical direction “kobza-rap” and traveled around Ukraine, popularizing both their works and the works of their writer friends. Their “inflatable piano”, guitar, drum (which at one time grandfather made himself) did not gather stadiums. But there were enough listeners.
And most importantly, books, both artistic, educational and historical. What only Kapranov was not accused of – misogyny or sexism, unprofessionalism and selectivity in the non-fiction direction. But they could not be ignored. Theirs was expected to be reprinted right when it was printed the novel “Forget the River”, where it was about the story of three people at war. “This is a historical investigation of three destinies that got mixed up and actually became one triple fate – the fate of a Ukrainian in the Second World War,” the brothers wrote in the preface. And also: “These are pens written off for autographs this year. You can also order our books with our autographs – this is the best gift”…
Kapranov brothers channel logo
Similarly, viewers actively supported their YouTube by subscribing “in the name of T.G. Shevchenko”, which from a few hundred followers in 2019, when it was “not fashionable” to Ukrainianize the Internet, has grown to almost a million followers today. One hundred million views. And yes, perhaps the historical facts here have their own, Kapran interpretation. But the brothers explained in this way – if Russia steals our history and turns it into a myth, then why don’t we create a myth from our history? In any case, each of the channel’s 245 releases is bright and unexpected. 660 subscriptions to the million mark, can’t wait…
“In Azov, we were given the call sign Gadyukin. So meet the Gadyukin brothers and their sister Lybid,” the brothers wrote on the page on March 3, 2022.
But even a full-scale invasion for the brothers somehow organically turned into military service – Dmytro and Vitaly Kapranov voluntarily mobilized to the Kyiv “Azov” and even when it was very difficult, they filmed encouraging videoeven with culinary testing of the invading and Ukrainian dishes.
A performance at the nativity scene is a Christmas tradition of the Kapranovs
“Not boring” – so often heard about them. The Kapranov brothers lived and created their cult in culture. Everyone, it seems, knew about the family, twin wives, children and life in a one-for-two family house. They did not like pathos and wisdom. I hope that the memory of Dmytro Kapranov does not turn into empty pathos either. Those who now write words of sympathy and memories understand this. And there will be so many more memories…
Seeing one of the brothers in Kyiv was still a rarity. Unfortunately, this should now become commonplace. “It was a real horror. In addition to the fact that we called each other all day, we also drove to each other almost every week. Being in touch is the oxygen we live by. And when we are asked how we can be together all the time, we ask, how can they be alone all the time?” – they say brothers in one of the interviews about the experience of separation…
Every day there are fewer people to call in the phone list. But deleting a contact is like erasing a person from memory. I don’t know which of the two brothers actually had a phone under the name “Dmytro Kapranov”, but as of today it is also on hold.
Kapranov brothers
It is impossible to erase Dmytro Kapranov from the collective Ukrainian memory, because he is part of our modern myth. You remember from the history of ancient beliefs about the god Janus – one of the oldest Roman gods, the patron of entrances and exits, beginnings and ends. He was depicted as a man with two faces on either side of his head. This is the Ukrainian myth created by the Kapranov brothers, in particular, Dmytro Kapranov. The one who does not enter the Forget River.
Ukrinform expresses its condolences to the family and friends of Dmytro Kapranov. We remember.
Yaryna Skurativska, Kyiv
P.S. The funeral of Dmytro Kapranov will take place in Kyiv on Thursday, April 18, at 11:00 a.m. in St. Michael’s Cathedral. Burial – at Baikovo cemetery.
The photos are taken from the Facebook page of the Kapranov brothers. First photo: Public
