International writers' residency in Nanjing, deeply experiencing the charm of ＂City of Literature＂

Nov 26, 2024

In November, Nanjing is adorned with red maples and golden ginkgo leaves, filled with the fragrance of books, drawing people to explore the unique autumn charm of Jinling. The seven resident writers selected for the 2024 Nanjing International Writers Residency Program have also arrived from around the globe, tracing literary paths and embarking on a cultural exploration and artistic experience journey in the “World’s City of Literature”.

The 2024 “Nanjing International Writers Residency Program” sent the global open call. Following recommendations from the UNESCO Creative Cities Network “Cities of Literature ”and selections by renowned experts in Nanjing, seven writers have emerged from a pool of 48 international candidates. They are: Yamila Transtenvot, a writer, poet, and translator from Buenos Aires, Argentina; Caroline Rodrigues, a writer from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and winner of the Jabuti Prize and Biblioteca Nacional Prize; Iztok Vrenchur, a writer, archaeologist, and poet from Ljubljana, Slovenia; Mariwan Hasan, a writer, critic, and doctor of literature from Sulaymaniyah, Iraq; Emilie Saitas, a graphic novel author from Angoulême, France; Ntokozo Ngcobo, a renowned film and television actress, writer, and poet from Durban, South Africa; and Andrew Hughes, a free writer from Dublin, Ireland, selected for Dublin's 2023 “One Dublin, One Book” project.

Over the course of two weeks, centered around the theme “Literature Makes Life Better,” writers visited enterprises and universities, explored city bookstores, libraries, and other cultural landmarks, engaged in discussions with local writers and artists, and personally experienced the joys of Tai Chi and table tennis, deeply immersing themselves in the cultural atmosphere of Nanjing and the everyday lives of its citizens.

Strolling along the banks of Yangtze River, the literary hub of the China, passing by the Avant-Garde Bookstore, Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, the city walls of Taicheng, Xuanwu Lake, Jiming Temple, Yuejiang Tower, Confucius Temple, and the Gulou District Library... the vibrant and historically rich natural and cultural landscapes provide writers with a profound cross-cultural experience. South African Durban-based actress, writer, and poet Ntokozo Ngcobo exclaimed, “I would probably tell the next person to just try and visit Nanjing, especially to their aspiring writers. I think that Nanjing is a must-visit global destination at least once in your lifetime.”

In the new cultural space, literature and art complement each other. Resident writers engage in a sharing and exchange meeting with teachers and student representatives from Nanjing University of the Arts on the theme of “Eastern Aesthetics and Cultural Exchange from an International Perspective,” visit the art exhibition “1985-2024: Forty Years of Contemporary Ink in China,” and explore artistic expressions within different cultural contexts. They also step into Nanjing World Literature Hall for face-to-face discussions with well-known local writers such as Bi Feiyu, Yu Bang, Shua Shua, and He Tongbin. “I'm thinking now of my next book and what i want to write... and i could easily decide that one character could perhaps visit a city such as Nanjing to work with artists and art galleries and study art restoration there.” After the visit and exchanges, Andrew Hughes, the writer from Dublin, Ireland, finds his creative inspiration flowing.

Nanjing's literary heritage is vibrant and enduring, one reason being its strong emphasis on humanistic care. During their residency, the writers engaged in reading exchanges, recitations of literary classics and poetry, and book sharing with students from Nanjing School for the Blind, fostering a connection among people. The writers highly praised Nanjing's special education initiatives, and South African writer Ntokozo Ngcobo even presented her poetry collection to the school. Additionally, the resident writers visited the Meishan Iron and Steel Industrial Culture Tourism Area, embarking on an experiential journey into China's industrial civilization and steel culture.

Slovenian writer, archaeologist, and poet Iztok Vrenchur stated, “Nanjing is one of the four historic capital of China and I would certainly invite everyone to visit and to learn from Nanjing’s people and their culture.” This trip to China left a profound impression on the resident writers regarding Nanjing. They praised Nanjing's ecological environment protection, technological education development, and reading atmosphere, expressing their intention to incorporate these Nanjing experiences into their works. Their residency in Nanjing also deepened their understanding of Chinese culture and inspired their creative work. They are eager to use this literary connection to promote deeper exchanges and cooperation between Nanjing, China, and world literature. As Iraqi Sulaymaniyah writer, critic, and doctor of literature Mariwan Hasan said, “I have a plan to write comparative studies between a poet from Sulaymaniyah and a poet who lived in Nanjing, to promote the exchange and mutual learning between the two UNESCO Cities of Literature.”

According to reports, the Nanjing International Writers Residency Program was officially launched in 2019 and has held six sessions to date, with over 300 international writers from cities designated as "Cities of Literature" participating. This year's residency program will culminate in invited writers creating literary works infused with elements of Nanjing, and the Chinese translations will be presented to global readers on various mainstream media platforms. For the first time, this year's event has also invited writers from Buenos Aires, the “Cultural Capital” of South America, to Nanjing, establishing a bridge for cooperation between Nanjing, the “City of Literature,” and the South American “Cultural Capital.”