A new anthology titled Ukraine 2024. Voices and Images—a compelling collection of contemporary Ukrainian poetry—will soon be published by a Croatian publishing house. The anthology has been translated and compiled by Alla Tatarenko, with significant support from PEN Croatia and poet-translator Tomica Bajsić.
The collection features works by prominent Ukrainian poets including Viktoria Amelina, Maksym Kryvtsov, Yeva Tur, Fedir Rudy, Iryna Starovoyt, Yelyzaveta Zharikova, Yaryna Chornohuz, Iya Kiva, Julia Musakovska, among others. This selection offers a vivid literary portrait of Ukraine’s current cultural and emotional landscape.
Iya Kiva, one of the contributors, highlighted the collaborative nature of the project: “From within the inner barbed silence, Alla Tatarenko has compiled a new anthology of Ukrainian poetry in Croatian translation, supported by Tomica Bajsić and PEN Croatia.”
The anthology’s visual elements are equally striking. Kateryna Mikhalytsyna designed the cover, which Kiva described as “an absolutely Celan-like” work, symbolizing resilience and unity through the image of two intertwined trees representing collective endurance amid fragmentation. Accompanying photographs by Yurko Kostyshyn—also known as Kit Kharakternyk—add further depth, each image conveying a heartfelt “thank you for existing” and the presence of life amid hardship.
Mikhalytsyna expressed her pride in the collaboration: “The images inside the book are photos by Kharakternyk, and this brings me joy. My drawing became the cover, and to be part of such a meaningful company is an honor. I am deeply grateful to everyone involved, especially Tatarenko and Bajsić, for fostering this uninterrupted and meaningful cultural connection.”
Ukraine 2024. Voices and Images promises to be a powerful testament to Ukrainian poetic expression, bridging languages and cultures through art and solidarity.
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