Daria Zhdanova
On June 14, a warm and intimate gathering of Ukrainian and Welsh poets and musicians took place at the cozy Caffi Soar in Merthyr Tydfil. Despite the limited capacity of the venue, the event fostered a palpable sense of genuine connection and mutual interest among attendees. The evening was expertly organized by Mike Jenkins and Olesia Miftahova.
A Showcase of Talent
The Welsh creative community was represented by the Red Poets – Jazz, Sian Roberts, Al Jones, and Mike Jenkins, Jonathan Richards, Nick McGaughey and Rob Cullen – alongside musician Barry Taylor, who truly knows how to captivate an audience.
From the Ukrainian community, the audience enjoyed poetry readings by Olesia Miftahova and Kostiantyn Kozlov. Lietta shared both poems and songs, while Uliana Gulvanska performed a well-known Ukrainian song in an English rendition and her own Ukrainian translation of a Portuguese song.
The good friend of all Ukrainians Nick Vysochansky also spontaneously took to the stage, reciting beloved poems by Ukrainian classics with English translations.
The Power of Poetry
Poetry, like other art forms, helps us to deeply understand and embrace reality. Through verse, we navigate complex emotions and cultivate love in places where it might seem unheard. Poetry speaks to feelings with feelings, and thanks to the poets’ masterful performances, there was no shortage of this emotional resonance throughout the evening, nor of words of support and gratitude.
The creative selections explored diverse themes, including war, social justice, recognising the importance of resistance and resilience in the face of oppression and exploitation, the necessity of unity and action, the philosophical purpose of a personality, birth and death, solidarity, playfulness, empathy, mutual respect, the experiences of creators, and, of course, love. This love encompassed affection for one’s homeland (expressed by representatives of both nations), for loved ones, and for one’s own identity.
A Bridge Between Cultures
In the café’s friendly atmosphere, two nations, four languages, and various generations intersected. These intersections offered profound enrichment and a wonderful experience of communication, all wrapped in rhymed verse. There’s no doubt that everyone gained something valuable and new, or simply enjoyed a soulful time in creative company.
Upcoming Artistic Endeavors
The creative spirit of the Ukrainian community continues! Soon, on Saturday, June 21, at 11 a.m. Olesia Miftahova will unveil her solo art exhibition, “Garden of Memory,” at Caerphilly Library. This time, Olesia showcases her talents as a visual artist. Visitors can anticipate a poetic and visual journey through memories, time, and human connections – a delicate intertwining of word and image that speaks directly to the soul. For those who can’t make the opening of “Garden of Memory,” there’s good news: the exhibition runs until July 17 with free admission for all!
Photographer: Dariia Zhdanova.
