Around 230 authors and translators have taken the opportunity to immerse themselves in new literary landscapes with the support of TRADUKI. In this series, we invite them to share with us their experiences of their residency stays.
In 2020, many of our residency programmes had to come to an unexpected halt. Nevertheless, we wanted to find a way to keep the “residency” spirit alive and build on the residencies that have already taken place. In the second half of 2019, the Slovenian poet Uroš Prah and the Bulgarian translator Hristo Boev had residencies in Bucharest. Both guests enjoyed their time in the Romanian metropolis and got inspired by what they saw and experienced.
In October 2020, we launched the digital essay Revisiting Bucharest. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to invite many more authors and translators to share their experiences of their residency stays with us. Et voilà: Revisiting Residencies was born!
Samira Kentrić
Kentrić uses fragmentary impressions, poetic snippets and colourful illustrations to reflect on and recount her time in the capital of Kosovo.
Adina Popescu
Adina Popescu sets out on the trail of her Aromanian ancestors. We follow Popescu across Albania, all the way to Voskopojë, a pivotal Aromanian centre in the past.
Alexander Shpatov
Alexander Shpatov talks to us about his stay in Skopje, what it takes to overcome geographical closeness, and the complexity of language and literature.
Nikola Madžirov
In the current episode Nikola Madžirov writes about his stay in Sarajevo. In the accompanying interview we talked with him about his time in the Bosnian capital, Wim Wenders, and the permanence and power of poetry. And where stories spring from: According to Madžirov they are like undiscovered minerals in mines.
Lana Bastašić
In Revisiting Belgrade, author Lana Bastašić talks about her stay in the Serbian capital, the writer’s block she had to overcome there, and the book that eventually unblocked it. In the accompanying interview she also tells us of her latest short story collection Mliječni zubi and about how she has become a real residency pro.
Frosina Parmakovska
In her digital essay, Revisiting Sofia, North Macedonian writer Frosina Parmakovska tells us about her stay in March 2020. In the accompanying interview, she discusses her approach to writing, her latest novel, and the books she (re-)discovered in lockdown.
Uroš Prah
In Revisiting Bucharest Slovene poet Uroš Prah presents poems and photographs from (and inspired by) his stay in the Romanian capital. In his digital essay he also gives us a glimpse of Văcărești Natural Park, which lies at the edge of Bucharest city.
