Новини
Unveiling the unseen: 83 pages of Vasyl Symonenko’s digitised manuscripts and unpublished poems are now in print
21 december 2023
A book of Vasyl Symonenko’s poems titled “Prayer” was presented in Cherkasy. The collection covers the most notable works written by the poet of the 1960s that have been checked up against manuscripts. The publication also unveils 83 digitalised pages of the poet’s handwritten notebook and part of his diary, including entries from the last days of his life. The publication of the book was made possible through the support of the MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation.
“Nowadays, Vasyl Symonenko’s poems have been acquiring new meaning, as they are recited by the military at the front, serve as the basis for popular songs, and are performed during ceremonies commemorating fallen defenders. This is why it was a great honour for our Foundation to support the publication of a unique collection of Vasyl Symonenko’s poetry,” commented Tetiana Volochai, Director of the MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation.
The book’s cover, along with the poems and manuscripts, accentuates the uniqueness of the collection. It is a sketch of an artwork based on the icon of St George the Dragon Slayer created by the prominent sixties artist Alla Horska. The artist dedicated this work to Vasyl Symonenko and presented it to the poet shortly before his death. Alla Horska’s family did not know about the existence of this painting until the moment when the work to compile the collection of poems began. As a result, according to publisher Oleksandr Tretiakov, the cover with Alla Horska’s work became a publishing and artistic sensation.
“Publishing a collection of poems is more than just collecting the poet’s works. They need to be united by theme or period, receive artistic embodiment, and be accompanied by a high-quality preface. Initially, we had a different vision and concept, but once we encountered Alla Horska’s artwork and the artist formulated a stylistic solution for the cover, the title “Prayer” materialised. Once this happened, all the pieces of the puzzle came together, and the idea began to take shape. The book became Simonenko’s prayer for Ukraine,” stressed Oleksandr Tretiakov, publisher and volunteer.
The Prayer collection was presented in Cherkasy on 15 December. The launch party was held at a symbolic location — Morris Space Art Gallery, located at 1, Symonenka Street. The poet’s live voice was played during the presentation, and archival photographs of Vasyl Symonenko were exhibited.
At the launch of the publication, the organisers held panel discussions on patronage, charity, and the role of big business in the development of cultural projects. They also focused on the significance of Vasyl Symonenko’s work. Taras Kompanichenko, a former kobzar and now a soldier in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, performed for the guests. He put Symonenko’s lyrics to music that can be played on the kobza. Friends and families of the fallen soldiers asked him to perform some poems during funerals.
“It is extremely important to see the full scope of Symonenko’s work. The Soviet authorities twisted his poetry, censored it, and “shredded” it before allowing its publication. Today, he is gaining relevance again because, in his poems, he speaks about the value of human individuality and personality. During the full-scale war, this is perhaps the most important thing because this is what Russia is trying to destroy in Ukrainians,” added Taras Kompanichenko.
The Prayer collection has a printed edition of three thousand copies. The books will be donated to libraries in small communities in Ukraine. The collection has already caused a stir: the MHP-Gromadi team has received hundreds of orders from people who want to buy it for their libraries.
