The Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Astana hosted a poetry evening of Rena Zhumanova’s work on May 25 to mark the launch of her new book “Pin Cushion.”
The event included speeches by other prominent poets and journalists as well as reviews of the work by the Kokshetau native.
“If a person is talented, he is talented in everything. If the human soul is singing, it is expressed not only in music but also in poetry, leaving an impression for life,” said Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo in Kazakhstan Sergey Zhuravlev, opening the event.
“I noticed fresh ideas in the poems of Rena Zhumanova, some interesting techniques, poetic discovery and inner irony. Music flows through and fuses into her poetry. Rena has something to say about the outside world, something to share with her readers. Be yourself – this is the main credo of the author,” said Assistant Professor of Philology at the Ualikhanov State University in Kokshetau Natalia Loktionova.
Poet Anuar Omar said he was pleased by the fact those who understand and appreciate the lofty ideas of poetry and art in general had gathered together in the hall, calling them the creative intelligentsia of Astana and Kokshetau.
“Pin Cushion” is the first published collection of poems by Zhumanova. Some of the poems were turned into songs and performed by artists from Kokshetau.
The presentation was organised by the Friendship Centre of World Women, with the support of Rossotrudnichestvo in Kazakhstan, the media centre of the Association of Tatars and Bashkirs of Kazakhstan and Adebiportal.kz.
Zhumanova is a freelance journalist and poet whose literary work is always related to her main profession. She is a graduate of the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory, a musicologist and a teacher of Birzhan Sal Kokshetau College of Music for nearly twenty years.
In 2012, Zhumanova was included on the shortlist of finalists for the annual Russian Poet of the Year award. Zhumanova’s works have been published in regional print media, the Kokshetau literary and art magazine, St. Petersburg’s “Fires Harbour” poetry almanac and other publications.
A work titled “Twenty Sonnets to Shokan Ualikhanov” by Zhumanova attracts particular attention and has received positive reviews from the famous Kazakh writer Bakhytzhan Kanapyanov.
