Romania is in the spotlight at the 31st edition of the Wrocław Good Books Fair, one of the specially invited countries. The Romanian Cultural Institute in Warsaw and the Timișoara 2023 Association – European Capital of Culture organised our country's participation.
The four-day fair program highlights the history of Central Europe, a space with a distinct geographical, mental, and emotional imprint, being the place of interethnic coexistence oases and the epicentre of terrible manifestations of totalitarianism.
Literary premieres, exhibitions, and films proposed by the Romanian Cultural Institute in Warsaw will bring authentic stories that explore the "great history" and individual destinies to the forefront.
The main subject of Romania's presence at the fair is Timișoara, the European Capital of Culture in 2023, and Banat, a region marked by its waves of colonisation and migration, with an exemplary model of interethnic coexistence for Central Europe. The phenomena and civic spirit of Timișoara, the place where the anti-communist revolution began in 1989, will be showcased through various forms of artistic expression.
Sorina Vazelina, an artist from Timișoara, chooses comics to guide the public through a journey of Banat's history, mythology, and personalities. Under the title "Tour Banat," 32 boards manage to compress over three centuries of stories and legends.
Gabriel Kohn, a German language specialist at the West University of Timișoara, explores the city's emblematic houses to reveal why Timișoara remains faithful to the values of ethnic and religious plurality, even in the face of current crises.
Two documentarians discuss the history of Banat and its connections with Central Europe through the lens of coffee. Episodes "Caffeine on the Bega" and "New Times. A Small Revolution" from the series "The Secret Map of Timișoara: People and Places" reveal the city's connections with Francesco Illy, the inventor of the modern espresso machine, and the coffee culture in the context of connections with Poland.
