Музеї війни в співпраці з громадською організацією PEN Ukraine відбулася спеціальна подія «Метаморфози: війна (не)змінна». У її межах представили другий випуск альманаху військової творчості «Метаромантика» – «Метаморфози».
The War Museum, in collaboration with the public organisation PEN Ukraine, hosted a special event "Metamorphoses: War (Un)changed". The second issue of the military art almanack "Metaromantyka" titled Metamorphoses was presented as part of the event.
The publication includes military poetry, prose, philosophical essays and conversations. Dietrich and Oleksandr “Dante” Mieniailov, both almanack contributors, took part in the presentation, while the philosophy of the Metaromantyka movement was presented by the president of PEN Ukraine, philosopher and volunteer Volodymyr Yermolenko. The event was moderated by the head of the War Museum sector, Roman Kabachii.
The almanack has three parts, called acts. The first act is a work that characterises the experience of encountering war, death, and fear, with texts written mostly in 2022–2023. The second act is a reflection on a long time spent at war, and a comprehension of its phenomena. The final part includes texts written specifically on a single topic – metamorphoses, that is, the changes that occurred during the war around and within each of us. The almanack also includes photos taken at the front line and illustrations of war, including reproductions of paintings by Serhii Kanyhin. They were demonstrated during the presentation.
British writer Gabriel Krauze was among the speakers too. Krauze joined the Hospitallers paramedic battalion in 2023. He is one of the contributors to the almanack. The issue shows his correspondence with Ukrainian guy Sasha, and it is about understanding war in its immediate crucible and at a distance, in another country.
Dietrich and Dante read out several of their poems that can be found on the pages of the almanack as well as outside of it. They also recited the works of combat medic Dmytro Shandra, call sign “Dyktor” (the announcer).
At the end of the meeting, the creators of the almanack donated several copies to the collection and library of the War Museum.
The full recording of the event can be viewed via the following link.
