Internationally recognised art and literary critic, writer and cultural producer. Published in ELLE, Glamour, Esquire and Cosmopolitan; member of the Union of Writers.
From 28 to 30 November, the picturesque town of Greenock, Scotland, hosted the VIII Eurasian Creative Week, which brought together artists, writers, poets and cultural figures from 15 countries (Canada, France, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Israel, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Scotland, England, Ukraine) to present the richest palette of Eurasian creativity.
The festival opened on 28 November at the Beacon Arts Centre, the central cultural hub of Western Scotland. Guests were able to enjoy an exhibition of paintings from the art catalogue The Great Steppe Treasure, which featured works by Maria Muchinskaya, Seidbek Atambayev, Polina Lakhtina, Shaizada Baikenova, Larisa Pak, Oksana Zhukova, Timur Akhmedzhanov, Anna Garib and Anastasia Kalinovskaya. Video messages from art curator Klavdiya Kuvshinova, writer Alikhan Zhaksylyk and public figure Nurym Taybek added a special atmosphere to the event. The evening ended with a meeting with the author Aleksander Kazarnvosky, who presented his work and read excerpts from his book.
The cultural programme continued with an event at the historic OYO Gin House Hotel on 29 November. There was a presentation of books published by Hertfordshire Press, including works by Nurlan Toksanov, Marina Alyasova, Marcel Salimov, Lusine Aleksanyan, Timur Akhmedzhanov, Bubuyra Bektenova, Lenar Shaekh, Gulsifat Shakhidi and Dulat Isabekov. Laura Hamilton and Anton Kovalenko presented a collection of novels and stories by Viktor Slipenchuk, Zinziver.
The highlight of the festival was the premiere of a unique film project – a film created using artificial intelligence technologies based on the poem CHINGIS KHAN by Viktor Slipenchuk. The film aroused great interest and became a topic of discussion among the audience. No less interesting was the presentation of new issues of the OCA magazine dedicated to Jizzakh (Uzbekistan) and the anniversary issue of OCA People, with Natasha Hart (Cavalier of the Order of the British Empire) on the cover.
The main event on 29 November was the Awards Ceremony, where the best works in the various nominations were honoured. At the end of the festival there was a meeting with the information sponsor of VIII Eurasian Creative Week, the writer and editor-in-chief of the www.Creativitys.UKMaria Bregman, where the laureates shared important information about their participation in the festival, which we would like to highlight in this article.
Marina Alyasova (Kazakhstan-Russia)
The Best Female Author award went to Marina Alyasova, a professional coach, NLP Master Trainer and author of books on self-development. Her collection of psychological fairy tales, Wise Tales for Children and Adults, published as part of the Maria Shevel Prize in 2023, attracted attention for its depth and ability to touch on important universal themes. Her work explores themes of love, acceptance, care, support and trust – important aspects that reflect her belief that all answers lie within each person. She believes that world literature is the link that unites humanity and that modern literature should reflect the diversity of the world, respecting the cultural heritage of different countries. In her fairy tales, she emphasises the importance of mutual understanding and the ability to listen to each other, using vivid and accessible language: “It is very important to learn to understand each other. And for that you need a desire to understand, not a desire to prove. When people learn to listen and hear each other, it is easier for them to agree and live in peace and harmony”. She also emphasises the power of positive thinking: “People who are angry, who swear, who take offence, are on the same wavelength with the same people. And those who are happy are on the same wavelength as those who are happy. And they have a lot of that joy! And I choose the wave of joy! “And finally, she emphasises the unique value of each person: “Each person is valuable in himself. They have an important task to solve, and in doing so they fulfil themselves and benefit the world”. Her work is a bridge between different cultures, helping readers to find their way in life through self-knowledge. The book was introduced by editor and translator Jonathan Campion.
Aleksander Kazarnvosky (Israel)
Aleksander Kazarnvosky, a poet, prose writer, journalist and playwright based in Israel, won the Bestseller Award. His novel War will tell the Further Plan, published in Russian by Hertfordshire Press, was named bestseller of the year. Two years earlier, the English translation also achieved bestseller status. In his work, Kazarnvosky attempts to unite national, religious and universal human values, operating at the intersection of these three principles. He sees their interpenetration as a crucial factor in the development of modern literature. Key ideas from his work are reflected in the following quotations:
“Oh, should you grasp the world’s imperfection’s hold,
Replant it then! Your mind’s strength is untold,
Since evil seen, your mind can clear the way,
We came to grow, not merely just to stay.”
Commenting on his experience at the Eurasian Creative Week, he said: “Everything was wonderfully organised!” and emphasised the value of meeting old friends and making new ones.
Yerbolat Baiganin (Kazakhstan)
The Best Epic nomination was won by the poem Narqyz by the folk akyn Nurpeis Baiganin, presented by his grandson, film producer Yerbolat Baiganin, a member of the ECG, who previously won the Audience Award at the Romford Film Festival for his feature film Financier – Play off. According to Yerbolat Baiganin, the poem Narqyz reveals the enduring universal values of honour, dignity, pure love and friendship between people: “It shows how people are capable of great deeds even in difficult circumstances.” Stressing the importance of preserving and disseminating the heritage of Kazakh poetry, Yerbolat Baiganin also noted that Sir John Farndon‘s poetic editing has allowed him not only to convey the authentic meaning of the work, but also to bring the story of a beautiful and strong girl in Shakespearean language to an English-speaking audience in an aesthetic form. An extract from the poem:
…”Seit’s daughter Aisha,
Radiant as the moon’s soft glow,
Though humble in means, she held a wondrous dream, her talent knew no bounds, a gift so rare,
A multitude of skills beyond compare.
She sang melodies sweet, music her delight,
With the dombra’s strings, she reached pure height, Her voice wove fables, captivating all around,
In awe, the crowd stood, by enchantment bound.
A famed wrestler, known to all,
Against undefeated champions she’d stand tall, Mighty opponents, numerous and near, Couldn’t get her to fall, free from fear,
Never once did she falter or quell.
In horse races she vied with grace, Appreciation and blessings adorned her pace”…
Other winners of the Hertfordshire Press Awards:
– Timur Akhmetdzhanov (Uzbekistan) for the second volume of the charity comic book Elish and the Wicker Tale.
– In the Critics’ Choice category: Viktor Slipenchuk (Russia) for the collection Zinziver (the award was accepted by the translator Anton Kovalenko); Gold Certificate of Recognition – Alihan Zhaksylyq (Kazakhstan) for the novel Is It Necessary to Worship at Notre Dame? (the award was presented by Bruce Gaston).
– Best Adaptation for Children: Gulchekhra-begim Makhmudova (Uzbekistan) for the book Legends of the Great Silk Road: Adventures of the Spirit of Time.
– Best Love Story Category: Gulsafat Shakhidi (Tajikistan) for the collection Labyrinths of Solitude.
– Barbara Yurkowska-Nawrocka Medal: Alexandra Rey and Anastasia Kalinovskaya.
– Jonathan Fryer Medal: Farkhod Tashtemirov and Oksana Zhukova.
Hertfordshire Press is particularly grateful to Margo Gamburgskaya (Uzbekistan) for creating the award statuettes.
The VIII Eurasian Creative Week brilliantly demonstrated the wealth and diversity of Eurasian talent. The festival not only reflected contemporary achievements, but also highlighted the rich cultural heritage of the participating countries, laying a solid foundation for further creative initiatives.
