Gloria Artis for Soriano and Dukaj

11 people were honoured by Bogdan Zdrojewski, the Minister of Culture and National Heritage with Medals of Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis. The distinctions were awarded to outstanding and recognised actors, composers, conductors, and educators, as well as representatives of the literary circle. The ceremony took place on the 11th of December 2013 in the seat of the department.

Those decorated include Abel Murcia Soriano – poet, translator, promoter of Polish literature in the Spanish-speaking world, director of the Cervantes Institute in Krakow, and writer Jacek Dukaj.

Abel Murcia Soriano is a poet, translator, and promoter of Polish literature in the Spanish-speaking world. He has been connected with Poland for thirty years now and is currently the director of the Cervantes Institute in Krakow (previously in Warsaw). His excellent translations of the poetry of Wisława Szymborska, Tadeusz Różewicz, Ryszard Kapuściński, and Ewa Lipska, and the great effort frequently put into the process of finalising the publication of Polish poets’ poems abroad made Polish authors known and read not only in Spain, but also in Latin America. The proof of the quality and the effects of Mr. Murcia Soriano’s work is the fact that the translation of Wisława Szymborska’s volume Chwila, which he published together with Gerardo Beltrán, remained on the list of best-selling poetry volumes in Spain for many weeks. Source: the Book Institute.

Jacek Dukaj is one of the most interesting contemporary Polish prose writers. The premieres of his books are great literary events every single time. Author of Xavras Wyżryn, Czarne oceany (Black Oceans), Extensa, Córka łupieżcy (The Punderer’s Daughter), Inne pieśni (Different Chants), Perfekcyjna niedoskonałość (An Ideal Imperfection), Lód (Ice), Wroniec (The Crowe), and numerous short stories – including Katedra (The Cathedral) adapted for the screen by Tomek Bagiński – collected in volumes such as W kraju niewiernych (In the Land of the Unfaithful) and Król Bólu (King of Pain). Originator of the anthology entitled PL+50. Historie przyszłości. A many times award winner, including the Janusz A. Zajdel and Jerzy Żuławski awards, five-time nominee for Polityka’s Passports, as well as the Nike Literary Award, the Cogito Public Media Award, and the Angelus Award; winner of the Kościelski Award and the 2009 European Literary Award. Source: www.wydawnictwoliterackie.pl.