News
The Polish daily newspaper in Lithuania, "Kurier Wileński", in cooperation with the Foundation "Aid to Poles in the East", has announced a competition to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Cyprian Kamil Norwid. Answers to the ten questions are expected by 15th May.
"In the year announced by the Polish Parliament as the Year of Cyprian Kamil Norwid, we wish to join in the celebrations of the exceptional 200th anniversary of the poet's birth. We thought of organising a competition, which would remind the Polish community in Lithuania of the figure of the poet, who is counted among the four most important poets of Polish Romanticism," deputy editor-in-chief of the daily, Anna Pieszko, told the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
The competition is aimed at the general public, and the questions are about the life and work of the poet, including his Lithuanian roots, his great love, and the types of work he was involved in.
As Pieszko, the author of the questions, points out, "the answers to them are not widely known, but can mostly be found in the texts that the journal has already published.”
Within the pages of "Kurier Wileński", two publications devoted to Norwid appeared in March this year – one by Józef Franciszek Fert, poet, literature historian, professor at the Catholic University of Lublin, researcher of Norwid's works, and another by Jadwiga Podmostko, long-standing journalist of the Polish daily newspaper in Lithuania.
"Our aim is also to encourage people to read these very interesting publications and to learn more about Norwid, who was misunderstood and underestimated during his lifetime, but who deserves our memory," says Pieszko.
The winners of the competition will receive gifts funded by the Foundation "Aid to Poles in the East".
Norwid is practically unknown among Lithuanians. The Polish Institute in Vilnius has joined in the promotion and popularisation of this outstanding Polish artist, as part of the celebrations of the Year of Cyprian Kamil Norwid.
On Lithuanian social media, the Institute shared an archive programme of Lithuanian Public Television from 2005 dedicated to the Polish artist. In the hour-long broadcast, Lithuanian literary scholars and artists talk about the poet, emphasise that his work stands out from all 19th century Polish poetry and that he created poems characteristic of 20th century poetry. The programme uses many of the poet's drawings and his non-stereotypical works are read and explored.
In recognition of Cyprian Kamil Norwid's contribution to Polish art and culture, on the 200th anniversary of his birth, the Sejm of the Republic of Poland has adopted a resolution establishing the year 2021 as the Year of Cyprian Kamil Norwid.
source: Aleksandra Akińczo, PAP