Ukraine has been placed in the spotlight at the London Book Fair, which began on April 18 at Olympia London. The event is attended by cultural institutions that promote book publishing, printing houses, technology companies, paper manufacturers, and publishers from over 60 countries. Ukraine’s pavilion is one of the central ones, and Ukrainian themes are widely represented in discussion panels at the fair.
Ukraine’s Literary Voice
“Our writers, musicians, artists, and actors today feel like authorized ambassadors of a culture that is finally being rightly recognized as a full-fledged part of the European cultural system. However, we have won this right at an extremely high cost to ourselves,” said Oleksandr Tkachenko. “Returning to the representation of Ukrainian literature in the world, I want to emphasize: Ukraine has a beautiful strong voice. You will hear it throughout the days of the London Book Fair. And I openly urge you to support the literary voice of Ukraine by purchasing rights to books by Ukrainian authors, translating and reading Ukrainian and about Ukraine.”
The Ukrainian Minister emphasized that Ukraine is already working on a strategy to restore the cultural sector, including libraries and support for book publishing. In early March, the Government of Ukraine approved the Reading Development Strategy for 2023-2032 and the operational plan for its implementation developed by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy. The implementation of this Strategy is a component of Ukraine’s human security by supporting and developing the book ecosystem.
Sensitive Content
The concept of the Ukrainian national stand at the London Book Fair 2023 is “Sensitive Content”. This year’s stand was realized thanks to the authors of the concept, Daria Bila and Sofia Khupalovska, as well as the Ukrainian Book Institute and partners. This is a deep interpretation of the experiences of Ukrainians related to the war. The Ukrainian booth featured an installation of vandalized furniture from three Ukrainian libraries attacked by Russian troops. The designers painted the furniture with white paint to make it look like ghosts, memories of a peaceful life.
The largest book event will run until April 21, and Ukraine’s participation will contribute to the recognition of the country’s literary voice and the restoration of its cultural sector. The Reading Development Strategy for 2023-2032 will ensure that the Ukrainian book ecosystem is supported and developed. The concept of “Sensitive Content” at the Ukrainian national stand is a poignant reminder of the experiences of Ukrainians during the war and the importance of promoting their literary and cultural voice on a global stage.
