3–5 December 2024, Pula, Croatia – The Forum of Slavic Cultures (FSK), for the sixth time in a row, participated in the Pula Book Fair(y) as a partner of the Slavic Garden programme.
The program’s host and curator, Ivana Peruško, welcomed two prominent authors to the Slavic Garden: Ukrainian poet and writer Andrij Ljubka and Russian writer Mihail Shishkin. The event attracted a large audience eager to engage in discussions about literature, culture, and pressing social issues.
Mihail Shishkin, author of the novel Maidenhair, which was published in Slovenian translation in the collection 100 Slavic Novels, presented his collection of essays My Russia. Discussions with Andrij Ljubka focused on his novel Carbide, a satirical portrayal of contemporary Ukrainian society. Ljubka highlighted the vital role of culture in times of crisis, stating:
“People need culture to feel human and not like creatures bombarded daily.”
This year’s Slavic Garden was particularly festive, as the Sa(n)jam knjige u Istri celebrated its 30th anniversary, while the Forum of Slavic Cultures marked 20 years of activity. At the program’s opening, Andreja Rihter, Director of FSK, emphasized the significance of connecting Slavic cultures through literature.
