180 years of codified Slovak
On 11 July, 180 years have passed since the Slovak language was codified. On 11 July 1843, representatives of Slovak catholic and protestant churches agreed on the unified form of the written language that was later dubbed codified Slovak. By this act, the Lutheran colleagues and students around Ludovit Stur followed the Catholic linguists gathered around Anton Bernolak who was the first ever codifier of Slovak. However, while he founded the language on the principles of the western Slovak dialects, the Stur group picked the central Slovak dialects as its basis. Stur along with his compatriots Hurban and Hodza came in July 1843 to seek the blessing for their version of the language to the Catholic priest and poet Jan Holly. Moved by the gesture of the young generation of politicians and writers, Holly approved the codification of written Slovak.
Author’s reading month belongs to Norway
The annual international festival of literature, “Author’s reading month”, opened over the past weekend in four cities both in Czechia and Slovakia. For the past 18 years, the event has presented literature by Czech and Slovak authors plus literature from a country acting as a guest of honour. In 2023, local audiences can meet authors from Norway. Up until 31st July, it is possible to meet important writers in Bratislava and Prešov, western and eastern Slovakia respectively, as well as in Brno and Ostrava in the Czech Republic. This year, the festival is spreading to Ukraine with the city of Lviv hosting some of the readings. The line-up includes names like Czech novelist Alena Mornštajnová, the recipient of a national book of the year award, the Slovak debut poet Alena Brindová or the internationally acclaimed Norwegian playwright Fredrik Brattberg.
Exploring influence of gardening on archaeological research
Of other traces is the title of the exhibition currently on display in the Central Slovak Gallery in Banska Bystrica. In her project, Michaela Šuranská explores the contemporary situation of a 9th century fortress, i.e. an archeological site in the village of Tlmače, southern Slovakia. This environment has been for decades the object of constant activity by gardeners and viticulturists. The location was destroyed. At the end of the1970, archaeologists ceased systematic research in the terrain. The key point of the artist’s research is memory, identity, myth and environment. Šuranská is interested in relations to the past revealed in common and individual approach to the public space and scape. Of other traces will be on display in Banska Bystrica until 10 September.
Mapping artistic past of Eastern Slovakia is Anna Lesznai
„Anna Lesznai – fog before me, fog behind me“. That is the title of the show in the East Slovak Gallery in Kosice, eastern Slovakia. This monographic exhibition offers an insight into the work of a significant Hungarian female artist with close ties to the territory of Eastern Slovakia. Anna Lesznai is considered to be a high profile representative of the Hungarian pre-war avant-garde movement. Her relation to Nižný Hrušov, 60 km eastwards of Kosice, turned into a life-long source of inspiration for her artwork, design and poetry. Due to the political situation after WWI and ahead of WWII she emigrated to Vienna and the USA respectively. The exhibition in East Slovak Gallery presenting her life and work is on display in Kosice over the summer holiday until 10 September.
According to Štefánia Ďuricová, the curator of the exhibition, reinterpreting the low profile work of prominent artists provides an opportunity to see new aspects of the region’s artistic past. The show in Kosice also underpins that there are no boundaries of art as well as the transnational approach to those creating it. Coming exactly from what is now south-eastern Slovakia were internationally acclaimed artists who reached their European fame either before living in or after leaving this city in the 1920s.
Grasslands in Topolcany ft international artists
Pažite is the word for grassland. Pažite Salaš Podhradie is the name for an open air scene of the independent culture hub Nastupiste 1-12 in Topolcany, western Slovakia. This multidisciplinary centre on the periphery adds to the development of the local community in interaction with random passers-by as well as invited guests. Its founder Zuzana Godalova and artists in residence invite to two artworks/concerts to be held on Thursday and Friday.
Visually impaired + Roma celebrities = Library for Kids
Kosice City Library for Children and Youth is hosting two exceptional exhibitions. The project “Nevidím, ale fotím” or “I cannot see but I take pictures” brings to light photographs by heavily visually impaired participants of a workshop led by the prominent Slovak photographer Alan Hyza. Under his supervision, they were trying to catch the turning point when the blind becomes seeing and darkness becomes light.
Another display in the Kosice City Library for children and youth showcases 10 portraits of Roma celebrities under the title “Neznáme farby osobností” or “Unknown colours of celebrities”. The paintings by Roma artist Jozef Fečo are the result of the project Roma Theatre – Secret Values of the Largest Minority in the Visegrad Region.
The exhibitions will be open in Kosice until 24 and 31 August.
