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Mykola Nik Bazhan: Early Experimental Poetry and Ukrainian Studies

Derek Cook

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Published in Quiet Spiders Of The Hidden Soul : Mykola (Nik) Bazhan S Early Experimental Poetry (Ukrainian Studies)

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“Quiet Spiders of the Hidden Soul”: Mykola (Nik) Bazhan’s Early Experimental Poetry (Ukrainian Studies)

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Mykola Nik Bazhan was a Ukrainian poet, writer, and translator. He was one of the most prominent figures of the Ukrainian avant-garde movement of the early 20th century, and his work was characterized by its experimental style and use of modernist techniques.

Early Life and Career

Mykola Nik Bazhan was born in the village of Okhtyrka, Ukraine, in 1904. He began writing poetry at a young age, and his first collection of poems, 17-й патріотичний (17th Patriotic),was published in 1920. In the early 1920s, Bazhan became involved in the Ukrainian avant-garde movement, and he was a member of the literary group VAPLITE. VAPLITE was a group of avant-garde writers who advocated for the use of new and experimental techniques in Ukrainian literature.

In 1926, Bazhan published his second collection of poems, Багаття (Bonfire),which was a more experimental work than his previous collection. Багаття was influenced by the modernist poetry of the West, and it featured a wide range of experimental techniques, including free verse, collage, and sound poetry.

Later Career

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Bazhan's work became more political. He wrote poetry in support of the Soviet Union, and he became a member of the Communist Party of Ukraine. In 1934, Bazhan was arrested by the Soviet authorities, and he was imprisoned for two years. After his release from prison, Bazhan continued to write poetry, but his work became more traditional in style.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Bazhan was recognized as one of the most important Ukrainian poets of the 20th century. He was awarded the Lenin Prize in 1965, and he was elected to the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences in 1967. Bazhan died in Kyiv in 1983.

Legacy

Mykola Nik Bazhan is considered one of the most important figures in Ukrainian literature. His early experimental poetry helped to shape the development of modern Ukrainian literature, and his work continues to be read and studied today. Bazhan's work has been translated into many languages, and he is recognized as a major figure in world literature.