Andrei Kurkov is considered to be one of the greatest contemporary Ukrainian writers. His work, including novels like Death and the Penguin and Grey Bees, is dark, humorous and satirical. As a keen observer of post-Soviet society, Kurkov proved to have prophetic qualities. What role does literature have in times of war? Dutch writers Manon Uphoff and Tommy Wieranga will both present a literary interlude.
Andrei Kurkovs latest book, The Silver Bone, a crime mystery set during the Russian revolution in 1917, just got released last year. But since Russia fully invaded Ukraine, Kurkov said he isn’t able to write fiction anymore. Yet, in a time when Ukraine’s culture is under threat, Kurkov’s voice remains vital. Kurkov has become one of the most important voices documenting the war’s impact on Ukrainian culture and identity.
Putin’s calculation is simple: a Ukraine with a permanent war in its eastern region will never be fully welcomed by Europe or the rest of the world
Andrei Kurkov
About the Speaker:
Andrei Kurkov (1961) is a Ukrainian writer and journalist. His novels, including Death and the Penguin, Grey Bees, and The Silver Bone, have been translated into over 40 languages. He is a keen observer of post-Soviet societies, blending satire, political commentary, and deeply human storytelling.
Manon Uphoff is a Dutch writer, screenwriter, and visual artist. Her novel Vallen is als vliegen (Falling is Like Flying) was named the best Dutch-language novel of 2019 by NRC Handelsblad and was shortlisted for major literary awards. The book has been translated into English, Spanish, and Hungarian, with the English edition recognized by the Times Literary Supplement as one of the best books of 2024. In 2024, Uphoff was inducted into the Akademie van Kunsten. Her latest work, Laat me binnen (2025), is a collection of three stories exploring themes of exile, trauma, and the search for connection.
Tommy Wieringa is a celebrated Dutch author known for novels such as Joe Speedboot and the award-winning Dit zijn de namen. His work often explores identity, migration, and moral complexity. His latest novel, Nirwana (2023), traces a family’s legacy shaped by war and industry. In Konvooi (2024), Wieringa documents his travels to Ukraine during the war, offering a powerful blend of reportage and reflection.
Forum on European Culture
Who’s afraid of art? Now that tyrants are on the roll and more and more people in the West seem to be falling for the autocratic alternative, the Forum on European Culture brings together international artists, writers, and thinkers to celebrate the subversive power of art and literature.
Speakers
June 25 – 29
Who’s afraid of art? Now that tyrants are on the roll and more and more people in the West seem to be falling for the autocratic alternative, De Balie brings together over 40 international artists, writers, and thinkers. During Forum on European Culture, we celebrate the subversive power of art and literature. It is no
On Ukraine’s past, present and future
Pulitzer prize winning author Anne Applebaum and Ukrainian philosopher Volodymyr Yermolenko engage in conversation about Ukraine’s past, present and future.
How is nostalgia used as a political weapon? The acclaimed Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov (Time Shelter, The Physics of Sorrow) explores the relationship between collective memory and identity in contemporary Europe.
