Anniversary exhibition dedicated to departed Moldovan poet inaugurated at National Library

Chisinau, 13 February /MOLDPRES/ - An exhibition and event titled, Grigore Vieru – Poet of Hasty Century, occasioned by the 85th birthday anniversary of the departed poet, was inaugurated at the National Library of Moldova (BNRM) today.    

The event was organized by the host institution, in cooperation with the General Department of National Archives.

BNRM director Elena Pintilie has said that the exhibition comprised about 180 documents of the Library’s collection, personal documents, manuscripts, vinyl discs, photos from collections of the National Agency of Archives, which show the life and work of the most read contemporary poet.      

„Grigore Vieru wrote understood by everybody and each of us finds him/herself in his poetry. While reading his works, one does not need dictionary. He was a good friend of the National Library. Since his youthful age, he was attending meetings of the Miorita literary club, led by literary critic Mihai Cimpoi. Grigore was a frequent guest of cultural events organized at the library,” Elena Pintilie stressed.    

For his part, writer Iulian Filip said that poet Grigore Vieru had been loved, respected and adored by readers of all ages. “He was a poet of everybody. I was often at meetings along with him in our villages. He did not miss any commitment to his readers, no matter where he was invited, either to a kindergarten, school or community centre,” Iulian Filip noted.    

Poet Grigore Vieru was born in the Pererata village, Hotin county, presently northern Briceni, district on 14 February 1935. He was author of more volumes of poems. Vieru was also author of an ABC-book. His works were translated into English, Russian, German, Italian, Bulgarian and other languages. In 1988, Grigore Vieru was awarded the most prestigious international distinction in the field of literature for children – the Hans Christian Andersen Honorary Diploma. In 1996, Vieru was awarded the Order of the Republic. In 1990, he was elected Honorary Member of the Romanian Academy and in 1993 – its corresponding member. Grigore Vieru died in the wake of a car accident on 18 January 2009.  He was posthumously awarded the National Order of the Star of Romania in the Grade of Grand Cross. Presently, more schools from Moldova, a boulevard from Chisinau and a street in Iasi, Romania, bear his name.       

The exhibition, Grigore Vieru – Poet of Hasty Century, will be open till 31 March.