Ukrainian writer and winner of the Freedom Prize of the Frank Schirrmacher Foundation
Serhiy Viktorovych Zhadan was born in 1974 in Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. In Kharkiv, Zhadan studied literature, Ukrainian and German studies and earned his doctorate with a dissertation on Ukrainian futurism. Since 1991, the author of numerous volumes of poetry has been one of the defining figures of the young scene in Kharkiv, where he still lives today. His first novel, "Depeche Mode", which was also translated into German, was published in 2007. Zhadan has received numerous awards, including the Hubert Burda Prize for Young Poetry in 2006, the Swiss Literature Prize of the Jan Michalski Foundation in 2014, and the Prize of the Leipzig Book Fair in 2018. In 2022, he will receive the Freedom Prize of the German Book Trade and the Freedom Prize of the Frank Schirrmacher Foundation.
Monday, 31. October 2022, 18:30 – 20:00 h
From the Studio
Moderation: Dr Martin Meyer
The Frank Schirrmacher Prize is awarded each year for outstanding contributions to the understanding of current events. In addition, the Foundation recently started awarding the Freedom Prize of the Frank Schirrmacher Foundation at irregular intervals for enlightened awareness in dealing with our realities.
Laudatory speech for Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Alice Schwarzer
Laudatory speech for Dr Serhiy Zhadan: Anna Prizkau
Moderation: Dr Martin Meyer
Wednesday, 26. October 2022, 18:30 – 20:00 h
At the University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 71, 8006 Zurich, KOL-G-201 (Aula)
Serhiy Shadan is one of the most distinguished writers and artists in Ukraine. After his highly acclaimed appearance at the end of the Frankfurter Buchmesse (Frankfurt Book Fair) and the associated receipt of the Peace Prize, Serhiy Shadan will appear at SIAF and report on the current situation in his country and the threat posed by the Russian aggressor, which has long since become dramatic.
Translation (Ukrainian – German): Juri Durkot