Vahur Afanasjev

Vahur Afanasjev (born 24 August 1979) is an Estonian writer.

Vahur Afanasjev
Vahur Afanasjev at the presentation of his novel "Kosmos" in Tartu Literature House, 2008.
Born (1979-08-24) 24 August 1979
Tartu, Estonia
Pen nameVahur Afanasjev, DJ Jumal, Vahur [€] Afanasjev
NationalityEstonian
Literary movementTartu NAK
Website
afanasjev.blogspot.com

Biography

Afanasjev graduated from the University of Tartu in 2002, majoring in economic policy. He has been a member of a literary group called Noorte Autorite Koondis (NAK) (English: Young Authors' League) since 1998, and a member of the Estonian Writers' Union since 2006.

He has worked as a journalist, media analyst, copywriter, creative director, and PR officer.

From 2005 to 2010, Afanasjev lived in Brussels, Belgium.

Writing

Afanasjev began his writing career with poems and lyrics in 1995. In 1997-98, he published three poetry collections on the internet. His first poems were published in the Estonian literary magazine Vikerkaar in 1998. He has published poetry books, short stories, and novels. His works have been published in several collections of various authors in English, Finnish, Russian, Romanian, Dutch, and Hungarian.[1]

Works

Poetry:

  • Kandiline maailm (Square World) 2000
  • Kaantega viin (Wrapped Vodka or Folded Vienna or I Take with Covers) 2004
  • Katedraal Emajões (Cathedral in Mother River) 2006
  • Eesti vaarao (Estonian Pharaoh) 2013
  • Kuidas peab elama (How Should We Live) 2014
  • Tünsamäe tigu (Snail from Tünsamäe) 2015
  • Hõbehundi laulud (Songs of a Silver Wolf) 2020

Novels:

  • Kastraat Ontariost (A Castrato from Ontario) 2005
  • Kosmos (Cosmos) 2008
  • Serafima ja Bogdan (Serafima and Bogdan) an epic novel published 2017 in Estonian, 2019 in Russian
  • Õitsengu äärel (On the Brink of Bloom) 2020

Other Prose

  • Kanepi kirik (Ganja Church or The Church of Kanepi Village) 2002 (a book of short stories)
  • Kaadrid otsustavad (Shots Decide) 2007 (a comedy book)

Non-fiction:

  • Minu Brüssel (My Brussels) 2011

Awards
  • Elise Rosalie Aun Literary Prize 2018.[2]
  • Estonian Cultural Endowment’s Award for Prose 2018 (Kirjanduse sihtkapitali proosaauhind), for the novel Serafima and Bogdan
  • Viru Literature Prize (Virumaa kirjandusauhind) 2018, for the novel Serafima and Bogdan
  • First Prize, Estonian Novel Competition 2017, issued by Estonian Writers’ Union, for the novel Serafima and Bogdan
  • Estonian Cultural Endowment’s Award for Poetry 2016 (Kirjanduse sihtkapitali luuleauhind), for the poetry book Snail from Tünsamäe
  • Go Travel Travelogue Award 2012 for My Brussels
  • The Writer of Estonia 2010 (Eesti Kirjanik 2010), awarded by Juhan Liivi Selts

Honors

Honorary Citizen of Peipsiääre parish, with a badge of honor[3]

Style

His style is described as socially critical magic realism flavoured with obscurities. His characters include parasite worms, murderers, corrupted journalists, robots, and lonely gay men. "...this year saw the publication of his short novel Cosmos. This is a peculiar tale that could be characterised as Brokeback Mountain meets Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."[4]

Music

In addition to his writing, Afanasjev makes electronic music (project tra_art), punk-like electric guitar rock, blues and country (project Kurluk Ulica), and experimental noisepop (project Kannibal Elektor).

A CD of tra_art was published with Vahur Afanasjev's book Kanepi Kirik (2002). Two of his recordings were on a CD of singing writers.[5]

He has also written lyrics for Orelipoiss, Skriimsilm, and Päris Anny.

Film

Afanasjev has made experimental short films since 2006, and has used photos and Microsoft PowerPoint in film production. In June 2008, he presented his autobiographical documentary film Where Dreams End and was threatened with a court case concerning it. The film had its official premiere at the Eclectica festival.[6] In April 2009, Afanasjev finished production of a documentary film called Rong Way about the complicated train travel between Estonia and Western Europe.

References
  2. Võtikvere kirjanduspreemia sai Vahur Afanasjev, Sirp, 05.08.2018
  3. website
  4. Helme, Peeter (Autumn 2008). "Younger Estonian Prose". ELM: Estonian Literary Magazine. 27. Archived from the original on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
  5. Laulvad Kirjanikud published by Kirjandusfestival Prima Vista in 2007
  6. http://tartu.postimees.ee/310808/tartu_postimees/kultuur/341269.php Archived 2012-02-20 at the Wayback Machine
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