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The Taipei International Book Exhibition came to a close on Sunday. Over six days, the event, at which Poland was the Guest of Honour, was attended by more than half a million readers. The main organiser of the Polish presentation are the Book Institute and the Polish Office in Taipei. They are partnered by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the National Library, the Pilecki Institute, and the International Cultural Centre.
The Taipei International Book Exhibition TIBE opened on 31 January. The event promoted not only Polish literature, but culture in the broadest sense.
The Director of the Book Institute, Dariusz Jaworski, assessed in an interview with the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that "the fair was very successful". "We were in Taiwan for the first time and straight away as a Guest of Honour. Our pavilion was superbly prepared in every respect. It contained everything that is most important, namely Poland in a nutshell," stressed the director of the Book Institute.
Over the six days of the event, there were 811 events for readers, 470 exhibitors (including 225 from abroad) presented their offerings, and more than 400 foreign visitors also came to the Taiwanese capital.
"We saw great satisfaction from the publishers, there weren't many, but those who were, made the most of the opportunity. It is also extremely important that this fair was a hybrid fair, combining industry, a very rich cultural programme and a fair, which manifests itself in the fact that the public can enter the pavilion, look through the books and buy them," said Jaworski.
The Director of the Book Institute said that there had been a lot of interest in the fair from central and local authorities, 'We are delighted with the reception of our authors at the fair. Polish poetry aroused great interest, as did the illustration of children's literature, the cuisine, and the fantastic music reaching the audience."
Jaworski pointed out that there is a problem with Polish translators in Taiwan. "We try to avoid subtranslations, i.e. translations from, for example, Polish to English and then from English to Chinese. It is possible that this type of situation will have to be accepted, at least for the time being. Unfortunately, there is no Polish studies in Taiwan. It would be beautiful if this faculty opened at any university. Slavic studies are present at Taiwan State University, but there the emphasis is on Russian," he said.
He recalled that the Book Institute, together with the Polish Institutes, runs the School of New Translators, a programme of translation workshops for people from different countries who know Polish and wish to become professional translators of Polish literature. Last year, the Book Institute undertook to organise a group of people in Taiwan interested in translating into Polish. This year, these activities will continue.
Jaworski assessed that Taiwan is a very important country in world geopolitics. "Culture, when not treated solely instrumentally, can be a conduit to business relationships and, in turn, business can very much enhance that culture," he said. He also announced that Poland would return to Taiwan next year to 'consolidate certain things'.
Speaking at the fair's closing ceremony, the Book Institute director said, “I believe that in these times of tension and various dangers, literature can bring salvation. And this is what I wholeheartedly wish for you, dear friends, and for us.”
In an interview with PAP, the Director of the Polish Office in Taipei, Cyril Kozaczewski, emphasised the fact that Poland was honoured to serve as Guest of Honour.
"It is hard not to appreciate such a major honour, because it is first and foremost a recognition of the quality of Polish literature, for our legacy, because after all, there are many translations of the works of Polish Nobel Prize winners on the market here. But perhaps the biggest attraction of the Polish week in Taipei was the opportunity for direct contact, interaction, conversations with Polish authors who came here in large numbers to Taipei," assessed Kozaczewski.
"It was indeed a big attraction for the Taiwanese to attend concerts by the Polish-Ukrainian band Dagadana. This had a symbolic dimension, as references to Ukrainian colours are present everywhere here at the fair. Ukrainian colours even appeared in the symbol of this year's fair. The arrival of the Polish-Ukrainian group, which had the opportunity to perform a number of very emotional pieces referring to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, was significant in highlighting Poland's role in supporting Ukraine," added the director of the Polish Office in Taipei.
The band Dagadana, which has been combining elements of Polish and Ukrainian culture through jazz, electronica, and world music for more than 15 years, has presented its work several times at the fair.
"We are very happy to have been able to come to Taiwan and show the relationship between Poland and Ukraine, also in relation to what is happening in the world. The Taiwanese understand us very well because they feel the breath of the enemy on their backs. Taiwan was one of the first countries to send very large medical support to Ukraine. In our everyday conversations we feel like brothers and sisters with them, even though we live very far away," singer and composer Daga Gregorowicz of the band Dagadana told PAP.
Dagadana's second vocalist Dana Vynnytska, originally from Ivano-Frankivsk, admitted that coming to Taiwan was very interesting for the band for cultural and psychological reasons. "In Taiwan, you feel freedom and respect for the other person. Taiwanese speak Traditional Chinese, a more difficult language than Mandarin, which is spoken by the Chinese. As a Ukrainian, I am aware of the role language plays, so I appreciate it very much. Taiwan was the place we dreamed of and we are grateful to have been able to come here," she stressed.
The Taiwanese fair, which was held with public participation for the first time after a pandemic break, was an opportunity to showcase the best of Polish literature and illustration to readers and publishers there, as well as to publishers from East Asia. Particular emphasis was placed on books that are about to be published or have been published in recent years in traditional Chinese translation and in English - novels, short story collections, essays, reportage, poetry, and literature for children and young adults.
The highlight of the Polish programme were the live meetings with a representation of Polish authors from various fields of literature.
Writers Andrzej Sapkowski and Witold Szabłowski, who have already been translated into traditional Chinese, met with Taiwanese audiences, as well as illustrators renowned locally, including Marianna Oklejak. The event was also attended by Stanisław Łubieński, whose book Książka o śmieciach (“What We Leave Behind”) had its premiere at the fair. Polish poetry was represented by Marzanna Bogumiła Kielar, and comics by Bartosz Sztybor. Rafał Kosik, author of books for children, young people and adults, also made an appearance at the fair.
The Polish presentation took place within a pavilion of more than 440 square metres, designed by Dr Anna Skołożyńska-Cieciera of ASC Studio, and referring to Polish traditional folk designs. The Polish stand featured, among other things, two exhibitions - one on Polish history and one presenting the traditions and present day of Polish children's illustration; there was also a sales point for books by Polish authors in traditional Chinese translation, a stage for authors' meetings, workshop space, thematic zones and a B2B meeting zone for publishers.
Polish publishers, literary agents, and cultural institutions exhibited at the Polish stand, including the State Publishing Institute (PIW), Powergraph, Foksal, Manuscriptum, Dwie Siostry, Nasza Księgarnia, Wydawnictwo Literackie, Andrew Nurnberg Associates, KaBooks, the National Library, International Cultural Centre, and the Pilecki Institute.
In addition to meetings with authors, accompanying events included art workshops for children and culinary presentations with tastings of Polish dishes.
Visitors to the Polish pavilion were able to enjoy an exhibition devoted to Polish children's illustration, namely "Captains of Illustration from Poland", organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute and curated by Jacek Friedrich.
At the exhibition, visitors were able to learn about the long and rich history of Polish children's literature and the related art of illustration, which developed most vigorously between 1950 and 1980. Works by artists working in the so-called golden age of Polish illustration, i.e. the 1960s and 1970s, as well as contemporary artists were on display.
The next trade fair at which Poland will be the Guest of Honour will take place in Madrid from 4 to 6 October.
The International Book Exhibition in Taipei is part of the strategy pursued by the Book Institute, the aim of which is to have a sustained, distinct presence of Polish literature in places where up to now Polish books have not been available or have been insufficiently available.
The project was co-financed by funds from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage as part of the task 'Poland as Guest of Honour at the TIBE 2023 International Book Exhibition in Taipei'.
Source: Polish Press Agency (PAP), Katarzyna Krzykowska