On World Book Day, Alma Mater Europaea University, in collaboration with Drama SNG Maribor, organized the literary event A Minute for Poetry. With poetic words of Slovenian authors and interpretations by renowned actors, the event revived the importance of culture as the foundation of every society.
On this year's World Book Day, April 23, Alma Mater Europaea University in cooperation with the Drama of the Maribor Slovene National Theatre organized a special literary event titled A Minute for Poetry.
The event was part of the Slovenian Book Days program, whose theme this year was inspired by the opening verse of the poem "In the Field" by Edvard Kocbek: "Tree, word and man."
"At Alma Mater Europaea University, we are aware that there is no society without culture, which is why we gladly organized an event that strengthens cultural identity and connects academic and artistic spheres," the hosts announced.
UNESCO chose April 23 as World Book Day because on this day in 1616 two literary giants, William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes, died, whose work still deeply influences world literature.
In the spirit of this important cultural day, visitors listened to a selected thematic collection of poetry by Slovenian poets, interpreted by renowned artists and collaborators of the Maribor Drama SNG. The selection of poems, imbued with the themes of nature, word, and man, enriched reflections on the interrelationships and connections of these elements through literature.
This year's central theme of the event was inspired by the opening verse of Kocbek's poem In the Field : "Tree, word and man."
IN THE FIELD
Tree, word and man,
three loners
in the middle of the plain.
They gaze at each other
eternally connected
with a secret memory.
The tree is silence,
the word is a bird,
man is the ear.
Silence and bird
and ear wait:
where is the wind?
The question is love,
love is the wind
and the wind is the beginning.
The tree rustled,
the bird chirped,
man sang.
Tree, word and man,
three friends,
eternally.
(Edvard Kocbek)
Artists of the Drama SNG Maribor: Matevž Biber, Davor Herga, Viktor Hrvatin Meglič, Žan Koprivnik, Eva Kraš, Liza Marijina, Kristijan Ostanek, Mateja Pucko, Nejc Ropret, Mojca Simonič, Matija Stipanič, Mirjana Šajinović, Vladimir Vlaškalić, Maša Žilavec and Gorazd Žilavec.
The event concept was created by dramaturge Tanja Lužar, and the project was realized in cooperation with MKC Maribor, the Slovenian Book Days festival, and Alma Mater Europaea University.
