The 9th Tbilisi International Literature Festival, held from September 27 to 30, concluded on a note of remarkable cultural synthesis. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Tbilisi’s urban and intellectual landscape, the festival attracted an eclectic range of voices from across the globe, offering a space where literature became both a celebration and a form of protest. With a diverse array of events that explored identity, history, politics, and the future of writing, the festival demonstrated the power of words in transcending borders.
Opening Night: Leo Vardiashvili and the Georgian Literary Canon Revisited
The festival opened at the Georgian Museum of Fine Arts with a dialogue between audiences and British-Georgian author Leo Vardiashvili. His presentation of Hard by a Great Forest encapsulated a new wave of Georgian literary expression, infused with an architectural sense of place and time. As Vardiashvili’s work takes readers on a journey through Tbilisi’s forgotten corners, he discussed the intersections between memory and narrative, offering both a sentimental and analytical dissection of his homeland through the lens of diasporic distance.
Moderated by Luka Grigolia, the conversation sparked reflections on how contemporary Georgian literature negotiates national identity within the shifting tides of a globalized world. The nostalgia in Vardiashvili’s writing mirrors the broader Georgian literary scene’s focus on reconciling the past with the present. The session also touched on the role of architecture as a character in Georgian storytelling, akin to Dan Brown’s urban explorations, yet with a subtler emotional landscape reminiscent of Khaled Hosseini.
Foreign Translators on Georgian Poetry: Beyond Linguistic Barriers
A pivotal moment of the festival arrived with the session on modern Georgian poetry through the eyes of foreign translators. Rodolfo Hasler (Spain) and Norbert Hummelt (Germany) presented their experiences in translating Georgian works, a rare exploration of how poetry survives—and sometimes even thrives—through linguistic transformation. The event was a layered discussion of translation as a bridge between cultures. While poetry is often seen as untranslatable due to its nuances, these experts demonstrated the vitality that exists in translating cultural essence.
The talk raised essential questions about how Georgian poetry, with its deep metaphors rooted in national experience, can achieve universality without losing its distinct voice. This session underscored the critical role translation plays in expanding the horizons of Georgian literature, making its unique cultural footprint accessible to the wider world.
Protest in the Language of Art: Belarus, Armenia, and Georgia in Dialogue
At the Goethe Institute, the panel discussion on ‘Art as a Form of Protest,’ featuring Uladzimir Niakliaeu (Belarus), Armen Ohanyan (Armenia), and Rati Amaglobeli (Georgia), was a poignant reflection on literature as resistance. For each participant, art was not merely an aesthetic pursuit but a platform for political activism.
Amaglobeli, one of Georgia’s most recognizable poets, positioned literature as an “invisible revolution,” where words can subtly but profoundly undermine authoritarian regimes. Niakliaeu, whose work is banned in his native Belarus, spoke candidly about the role of literature in unmasking the myths surrounding dictatorial power. His experience echoed the ongoing tensions in post-Soviet countries, where authors and artists find themselves at the frontline of the sociopolitical struggle. This session resonated with the current global climate, reinforcing the idea that literature is not only a tool for individual expression, but a communal weapon against oppression.
Poetry Jams: Where Cultures Meet through Rhythm and Rhyme
One of the festival’s most electric events was the poetry jams. With performances from all international participants, this event was a whirlwind of multilingual expression, blending styles from across Europe and beyond. Together, the poets and musicians demonstrated how different traditions of poetry can coalesce to create a shared space of artistic resonance.
This poetry jam was a key reminder that, in the realm of art, language barriers fall away, making room for a universal exchange of ideas and emotions. It exemplified the festival’s overarching theme of breaking down cultural and linguistic boundaries through literary expression.
Closing Night: A Performative Fusion of Georgian Poetry and Global Voices
The festival’s closing event, held at the Movement Theater, was a spectacular fusion of poetry and performance, blending Georgian and international works into a night of theatrical recitations and live readings. The event brought together poets from Ukraine, Latvia, and the USA, alongside Georgian artists, in a grand finale that epitomized the festival’s spirit of multinational dialogue. Dever Butson, a contemporary poet from the US, anchored the evening with a powerful reading of his work rooted in social and political crises.
The festival concluded with a spectacular closing event, where Georgian poetry took center stage in an unforgettable performative evening titled Night as Such. The evening featured poetry readings from both Georgian poets, culminating in a poetic and performative fusion of art forms. The Movement Theater, with its intimate setting, was the perfect venue for this multi-sensory exploration of language. The evening encapsulated the festival’s goal of merging diverse literary traditions while celebrating their individuality. It provided a fitting end to a four-day journey that traversed the personal, political, and poetic landscapes of each participating country.
A Festival that Bridges Nations, Words, and Worlds
The 9th Tbilisi International Literature Festival succeeded in its mission to create a space where literature, in all its forms, could serve as a bridge between nations, cultures, and historical contexts. From the local voices of Georgia to the far-reaching echoes of global poetry and prose, the festival provided an essential platform for dialogue, reflection, and artistic collaboration.
In a world where borders seem increasingly rigid, this festival reminded us that literature remains one of the most effective tools for dismantling walls—both literal and metaphorical. It also affirmed Tbilisi’s place on the map as a dynamic cultural hub, where the past meets the present, and where words transcend the limitations of time, place, and politics.
The 9th Tbilisi International Literature Festival was not just a celebration of books; it was a celebration of the power of language to unite, inspire, and resist. As Georgia continues to grow its presence on the global literary stage, this festival will undoubtedly serve as a vital touchstone for future generations of writers and readers alike.
By Ivan Nechaev
