The poetry of Vasilisk Gnedov
translated by
Emilia Loseva & Danny Winkler
Vasilisk Gnedov (1890 – 1978), one of the most radical members of the remarkable generation of Russian Futurism, became known for his provocative performances and poetry, which sought to develop a new language by dissembling the old. He experimented with spelling, syntax and vocabulary, creating new meanings of “the word as such”. Swept up by the tragic events and political repression, Gnedov was consigned to oblivion. But he did not stop writing. His later poems vary in style and themes. Simple and meditative, they reveal the lyrical soul of the true poet.
Emilia Loseva is an independent author who writes and translates poetry, essays, film scripts and conceptual texts for multi- disciplinary events. She worked on films and other projects with Danny Winkler. Together they made a research work and completed a book of translations of Russian Futurist poet Vasilisk Gnedov. Alphabet for the Entrants, published by UDP in 2018, was the first stand-alone volume of selected works by Gnedov available in English.
Danny Winkler (1976 – 2014) worked with experimental photography before completing postgraduate Visual Anthropology studies at Goldsmiths College in London. Having previously worked with the United Nations, British Council and One World Media, he was involved with anthropological projects, documentary scripts and freelance writing.