Literary museum: exhibits provide a glimpse into the lives of renowned Belarusian writers
Tucked away amid the numerous houses of Minsk’s tranquil Troitskoye Predmestye (Trinity Suburb), the State Museum of the History of Belarusian Literature stands as the country’s ‘literary Mecca’. In the pre-revolutionary era, the site was known as the Movsha Shlemovich Tsitver footwear factory, and in the early 1990s it became home to a literary museum. Today, the museum’s collections — encompassing ten cultural institutions — total around 65,000 exhibits. Among the most significant are the photo records and archives of Vintsent Dunin-Martsinkevich, Vladimir Korotkevich, Vasil Bykov, Tishka Gartny, and other distinguished Belarusian literary luminaries. It also houses personal belongings that offer a glimpse into the lives of these celebrated figures. Valentina Korotkina, Head of Scientific and Educational Department at the museum, shared details about some of them.
Bogushevich family’s cabinet
Conversely, this cabinet found its way to the BSSR History Museum and in 1990 it was transferred to the holdings of the literary museum. Notably, the house in Kushlyany is the only preserved writer’s manor from the late 19th century in Belarus. The cabinet is a work of varied handicraft and, beyond its historical memory, it also carries artistic value as an item of decorative and applied folk art.
Vladimir Korotkevich’s cup
This cup was among the belongings used by Vladimir Korotkevich during his last journey. The writer frequently embarked on expeditions with artists, writers and photographers. After enduring a severe illness, he joined a boat expedition across the Pripyat — just a few weeks after his recovery — to gather material related to Polesie. The museum also houses a lamp that belonged to Vladimir Korotkevich, which was kept in his flat in Minsk.
Belarusian basin
This item is the symbol of one of Belarusian literary associations that aimed to preserve Belarusian culture. The creative team operated at the end of the 1990s and into the early 2000s. Writers produced self-published collections, sought to draw attention to their work, and were known for their performances: some played the violin, others the accordion, a third shook a basin, and some sang. Among them were many writers, translators and linguists who later gained fame, and the association’s mascot was eventually donated to the museum.Maxim Tank’s Chinese album
Maxim Tank had the opportunity to travel the world, and he often returned with a variety of souvenirs. The exposition features a backgammon board from Azerbaijan, as well as an album from China. Bought in 1957 as a simple souvenir, it later filled with various photos and poems in foreign languages that the poet cut out from diverse newspapers.
Ales Adamovich’s film camera and microphone
It should be noted that these devices were used by all members of the group who travelled around Belarus in the early 1970s to gather material for the chronicle book, I Am From the Fiery Village. Besides Ales Adamovich, the travellers were Yanka Bryl and Vladimir Kolesnik. As is known, the first edition of the book included a vinyl record with recollections from villagers and voices of those who told the stories.The museum also owns a poster from the Come and See film presentation in Moscow. Ales Adamovich himself was frequently present on the film’s set. Numerous items from the writer’s archive, including the original screenplay, are now housed in the literary museum.
Yevgeniya Yanishchits’ rushnik
When the poetess passed away, many close people entrusted her belongings to the museum, including a rushnik [embroidered towel] from the village of Rudka in Pinsk District, where she was born, as a symbol of her homeland.
Ivan Chigrinov’s typewriter
This German typewriter was brought to Minsk from Dresden, Germany, after the war, as part of indemnity. It came to the museum along with Ivan Chigrinov’s belongings, though it had previously belonged to several writers. Thus, Chigrinov received it from Maxim Tank during his work with the Union of Writers.
Piotr Vasiuchenka’s piglets
The museum houses several piglets from the collection of the renowned writer, translator and philologist. One of them is a secret model — a piglet is fitted with a mechanism that allows it to open. This figurine serves as a prototype of the Christmas pig from Piotr Vasiuchenka’s story, The Adventures of Messrs Kublitsky and Zablotsky. After the work became popular, his friends began gifting him these animals.By Igor Kandral
