A Parable of Mykola Khvylovy in a Tailcoat Cover Image

Притча про Миколу Хвильового у фраку
A Parable of Mykola Khvylovy in a Tailcoat

Author(s): Yuliana Lesniak
Subject(s): Aesthetics, Philosophy of Mind, Social Theory, Cultural Essay, Phenomenology
Published by: RUTA, z.s.
Keywords: communism; disillusionment; Soviet repression; artistic legacy; Ukrainian culture; historical figures;

Summary/Abstract: In the “Sanatorium Zone” by Mykola Khvylovy, a character named Khloya, an exalted and suicidal young man, explains his failed suicide attempt, revealing his despair over never seeing Lenin again. Khvylovy’s characters, like himself, are communists with a romantic vision of communism that was never realized. Among them is the metranpazh Karno, a simulacrum of Lenin, embodying the omnipresent and oppressive nature of the regime. This narrative reflects the disillusionment and hopelessness experienced by the characters. For modern Ukrainians, the “Executed Renaissance” generation, including Khvylovy, represents a lost era of artistic energy suppressed by Soviet repression. The rehabilitation of these artists’ legacies post-Soviet Union dissolution has sparked discussions and projects, such as the AI-generated images in “Living Executed” by Martyn Yakub. These efforts highlight the importance of understanding the complex and multifaceted nature of these historical figures and their contributions to Ukrainian culture.

  • Issue Year: 2024
  • Issue No: 05+06
  • Page Range: 72-73
  • Page Count: 2
  • Language: Ukrainian
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