Ratković's poetry evenings leave an indelible mark on the Montenegrin cultural space, bring moments of deep reflection, joy and inspiration for future achievements, and this festival is an opportunity to remember the great names of our literature, but also to support new voices on the poetry scene.
This was announced by the Minister of Culture and Media, Tamara Vujović, who opened the 54th Ratković Poetry Evening - a regional literary festival in Bijelo Polje.
She said that Ratković's poetry evenings, back in 1970, on Risto Ratković's birthday, began an immeasurable mission - "to enable the immortality of his verses and a full and playful life for poetry".
"Even after 54 years, in the house where he grew up, we revive the poetic images of contemporary authors from Montenegro, the region and Europe, opening a dialogue with the cultural heritage of this climate, but also a conversation about the development of poetry, giving important space to new voices, whose talents we are just getting to know each other. This year, there were 50 books competing for the "Risto Ratković" award, while 11 manuscripts competed for the "Ratković Evenings of Poetry" award. This is another proof that this is one of the most significant literary events in the region. Famous writers from the region were happy to come and continue to come to Bijelo Polje to support and complete the celebration of poetry and poetry," said Vujović, as the Ministry announced.
She pointed out that the festival is not only an opportunity to remember the great names of our literature, but also a moment to support and promote new voices, those who are just coming onto the poetic scene, bringing with them the freshness, authenticity and strength of their generation.
"Throughout its long history, poetry has been celebrated, instrumentalized, banned, and probably in these various social turmoils, there was talk about the possible end of poetry as we know it, underestimating its transformative power and the breadth with which it escapes finitude and definitions every time. She continues to live, develops her secret language, which with its magic draws readers into a seemingly familiar space, from which they emerge changed. It questions social norms, annuls the laws of the market and calls into question the entire construction of the capitalist world despite which it skilfully survives, resists, perhaps as one of the last barriers of free thought," said Vujović.
Ratković's poetry evenings, as she said, "successfully listened to trends" and followed the development of contemporary poetry, and the prizes they award have become a "reference compass" when it comes to recognizing authentic poetic achievements.
"Along with traditional poetry readings, an art and theater program, as well as book promotions published by this institution, it is significant that this year a literary workshop will be organized for high school students, which interactively involves young people in the creative process," said Vujović.
This year's festival, as she pointed out, was welcomed with pride that not only the memory of Risto Ratković was preserved, but also the legacy of his creative work "which, like Lim flowing through the sea, flows with contemporary poetry and never ceases to inspire poets".
"In the coming period, we expect that Ratković's poetry evenings will continue with their program contents throughout the year to make the literary life in Montenegro richer, and that these poetry readings and poetic meetings will inspire and become a role model," said Vujović.
The Ministry of Culture and Media, as she pointed out, recognizes and supports the importance of poetry, in order to preserve its value and power and pass it on to new generations.
"We support initiatives that will make poetry and art accessible to the general public. Through the competition "Development of Culture in the North", we supported 65 projects with 238 thousand euros. Our task is to create conditions in which art and poetry will not only survive, but also flourish. This implies strategic planning, investment in cultural infrastructure and recognition of culture as a vital segment of social life", said the minister.
She thanked the participants, poets, artists, as well as the audience, "who give meaning to the event with their presence".
"Without you, without your ear for the beauty of words, this festival would not be what it is - a living testimony of the duration of art in our lives. We are convinced that these evenings of Ratković's poetry will leave an indelible mark, both in our hearts and in the Montenegrin cultural space, and that they will bring us all moments of deep reflection, joy and inspiration for future achievements", concluded Vujović.
Risto Ratković's literary oeuvre is not extensive, but it is significant - he sharply separated mediocrity and rudimentary backwardness, bringing to light the philosophically essential thread of the essence of living, said the President of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje, Petar Smolović, introducing the participants and the audience to the character and work of the writer born in that city, after which the literary event got its name.
"Deeply emotional, vulnerable, 'slaughtered and not killed', as the people say, he struggled with life's adversities and misfortunes, which colored a significant part of his creativity. "Realistic and ontological characters live in the reality of the present (bosses, war profiteers, bad characters, people of low morals, fates with Hamlet-like plots), portrayed with literary inspiration, they are just the gallery of Risto Ratković from the Vilajeka Sandžak cradle," Smolović pointed out.
For the director of JU Ratković's evening of poetry, Kemal Musić, that festival is "a place where poetics intersect."
"With the power of art here, works of timeless value are created. Year after year, at Ratković's poetry evenings, we experience a comprehensive understanding of life and the world. We strengthen our foundations on reflection and knowledge, tradition and culture. All with the aim of nurturing creativity and artistic shaping of individuals and collectives, with with the ambition that it be a sign of recognition of value and a dry seal on the rich Montenegrin art scene", said Music.
After the international poetry evening, the monodrama "What I call oblivion" was performed, based on the text by Loran Movinje and performed by Filip Grinvald.
The literary event continued today at 12 noon, with a literary workshop for high school students led by Milka Španjević and Edin Smailović. The guest of the workshop is Dobrivoje Stanojević.
Bonus video:
