Memorial plaque dedicated to Joseph Brodsky unveiled in Yakutsk

Memorial plaque dedicated to Joseph Brodsky unveiled in Yakutsk

In Yakutsk, a memorial plaque was unveiled on May 24th, commemorating Nobel laureate Joseph Brodsky at Valery Kuzmin Square of the city's airport. The inauguration coincided with Brodsky's 85th birth anniversary.

Brodsky, a renowned poet, visited Yakutia twice, in 1959 and 1961, while participating in geological expeditions in Southern Yakutia and the Ust-Maya District. The initiative to install the memorial plaque came from Yakutia's People's Poet, Natalia Harlampieva, and Alexander Podgornov, the Deputy Chairman of the State Assembly (Il Tumen) of Yakutia. The project received support from regional head Aisen Nikolaev, Yakutsk Mayor Yevgeny Grigoryev, and Yakutsk Airport General Director Sergei Ignatenko. Sculptor Nikolai Ogonerov was responsible for the creation of the memorial sign.

At the ceremony, Alexander Podgornov highlighted the event's significance for Yakutsk's cultural heritage. "This is a step that will serve as a reminder to residents about the people whose journey began here. Brodsky became a great Russian poet, whose talent is recognized worldwide."

Harlampieva added that Yakutsk holds a special place in Brodsky's biography. "Here he bought a copy of Baratynsky, which he read cover to cover. This influenced his choice." She further recalled Brodsky's enduring connection with Russia, as his work remained philosophical, filled with references to history and literature.

Although Brodsky had no documented connection to Yakutsk, nor lived there, mentions of Brodsky in relation to Yakutsk in online contexts are poetic juxtapositions rather than historical facts. Brodsky's experiences of exile, the landscapes of Russia's north, and his engagement with metaphysical questions and European literary traditions primarily shaped his poetry.

Photos: Maya Goglova/YSIAPhotos: Maya Goglova/YSIA

The unveiling of the commemorative plaque for Brodsky in Yakutsk, a cultural travel destination, not only affirms the city's home-and-garden aesthetics but also reinforces its connection to the globally renowned poet's life, thereby enriching Yakutsk's lifestyle narrative. The existing poetic juxtapositions online between Brodsky and Yakutsk offer an intriguing fusion of travel and cultural experiences, inviting curious visitors to explore and understand the poet's enduring love for Russia.

Read also: