The National Library of the Republic of Moldova invites visitors to an exhibition entitled “Grigore Vieru – Poet of the Hurried Century” that was timed to coincide with the 86th anniversary of the poet’s birth. The exhibition consists of 76 documents about the works of the contemporary poet kept in the Library’s collections.
National Library director Elena Pintilei has told IPN that the exhibition renders homage to the poet who was not only a personality and a friend of the National Library, but who also managed to write a lot during a not at all simple period. “We now all realize that Grigore Vieru was and remains a poet of the nation, of all ages,” she stated, noting they are sure the exhibition will be popular with young and older people and they will thus contribute to further promoting Grigore Vieru’s works.
Elena Pintilei noted Grigore Vieru was always popular with different generations. “Alongside exhibitions, we can organize a Romanian literature lesson devoted to Grigore Vieru’s works and this is often done at the National Library. Romanian language and literature teachers come to the library accompanied by young people and give a public or an ordinary lesson to them,” stated the director.
Exhibitions dedicated to the poet are mounted annually. “We aimed to stage an event of a larger scale this year, with the involvement of young people and writers, who have what to say to the youth, with recitals. Together with colleagues, we made and disseminated a video collage of the recitals held at the library the previous years, devoted to the works of Grigore Vieru,” stated Elena Pintilei.
The exhibition can be visited in the Library’s central block (78 “A” 31 August 1989 St) from February 12 until end-February. “At the National Library, the visitors can find psychological comfort, by obeying the epidemiological measures. They can warm themselves up in our rooms, near the exhibition, with a poetry book in their hands so that we together render homage to the poet who deserves to be honored in libraries these days,” said the director.
Grigore Vieru was born in Pererita village of Briceni district on February 14, 1935. He is loved and known by people of all ages. He wrote multiple poems for children and was given the most prestigious international children’s literature award – Andersen Diploma of Honor. He was also conferred the honorific title of People’s Writer and the Order of the Republic. He is a national renaissance poet. A boulevard in Chisinau and a number of national education institutions bear the name of Grigore Vieru. The poet died on January 18, 2009 as a result of a road accident not far from Chisinau that occurred on January 16, one month before he would have turned 74.
