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An exhibition dedicated to the 150th anniversary of one of the most outstanding figures in Ukrainian culture – Larysa Petrivna Kosach-Kvitka, known as Lesya Ukrainka, officially opened in the Library on February 24.
The exceptional significance of her works lies in the fact that she enriched the literature of her people with new themes and motives, introduced hexameter, free verse, iambic pentameter and plots of the world literature into Ukrainian poetry. Lesya Ukrainka not only propelled the Ukrainian literature to the next level, but she also was at the forefront of the national movement. She took interest in Ukrainian folklore, researched, preserved and was its bearer herself. Together with her husband Kliment Kvitka, she was the first Ukrainian folklorist who began to record the performance of folk songs on a phonograph.
Lesya Ukrainka lived only 42 years. Overcoming life's difficulties, tragic love and a deadly disease, she never succumbed and remained in the minds of Ukrainians as a symbol of invincibility and struggle.
The exhibition presents about 50 documents reflecting the rich heritage of Lesya Ukrainka. Among them are full collected editions, publicistic writing and letters, memoirs of contemporaries, literary and biographical portraits. Visitors can see the 1920-1940s publications of the works by the poetess from the collections of The National Library of Belarus.
A valuable publication for researchers is the book "Larisa Petrivna Kosach-Kvitka (Lesya Ukrainka). Biographic materials. Memoirs. Iconography" (2015), consisting of the original texts by Lesya Ukrainka, memoirs, articles and photographs. Most of the book is the memoirs and letters of Isidora Kosach-Borisova, Lesya's sister, whose legacy has never been published. The "Iconography" section contains unknown documents from private archives.
The exhibition also presents the musical heritage of the outstanding Ukrainian: copies of musical notations of songs with the lyrics by Lesya Ukrainka, and a collection of Ukrainian folk songs recorded from her voice.
The exhibition will run until May 25, 2021 in the circular corridor of the 2nd floor.
End date is subject to change.
The opening hours of the exhibition correspond to the library’s opening hours.
Admission is by the library card or by the Social and Cultural Centre ticket.
Gallery and Exhibition Department.
