The Greek Deputy Minister of Culture praises the vision of the Ruler of Sharjah in promoting Arabic culture and language
Sharjah, 5 November / WAM / This year, Greece is the guest of honor at the 44th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair, which began today and continues until the 16th of this November at the Expo Center Sharjah, providing visitors with a diverse cultural experience of one of the most ancient artistic and literary cultures in the world through an integrated program that includes literature, theatre, music and culinary arts.
In a statement to the Emirates News Agency, WAM, Jason Votilas praised the level of the Sharjah International Book Fair in terms of participating publishing houses from various countries of the world and the Emirati culture and the importance of openness to it, praising the vision and support of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, in promoting Arabic culture and language.
He pointed out that the Greece Pavilion at the Sharjah Book Fair was designed in the shape of a ship inspired by the ancient Greek ship, considering that Greece is the link between the Eastern and Western worlds by transmitting the two cultures to each other. He expressed his happiness at being present at the exhibition and his desire to be present every year to support Arab and Greek culture in order to produce joint cultural materials that serve the largest segment of the public.
For her part, Dr. Sissi Papathansiou, Head of the Literature Committee at the Greek Ministry of Culture, told “WAM” that the National Pavilion of Greece is being built on an area of 200 square meters and is inspired by the aesthetics of classical Greek architecture. It hosts 58 Greek publishers and cultural institutions, including 28 people, and displays 600 titles in the Greek language and international languages translated from them. The pavilion also includes a sculpture of the olive tree, which symbolizes flexibility, peace and wisdom, and a space to host readers and writers. And thinkers.
She added that Greece’s cultural program includes an exhibition entitled “Greek Literature: The Long Journey” that reviews the development of the Greek language and its literature from pre-Christian times to the present day and sheds light on the contribution of Greek writers, poets, thinkers and philosophers in shaping the national identity of Greece and their influence on the global cultural and literary scene.
The program also witnesses the participation of more than 70 prominent Greek writers, poets, translators, painters and academics, in addition to musicians, librarians and publishers, who will contribute to enriching the agenda of the cultural and professional programs during the exhibition.
Greece has prepared a series of translations of Greek works into Arabic, including translations of selections of works that won national awards for poetry and short stories, in addition to translations of contemporary poetic monodramas, in addition to Greek performing arts performances and a theatrical musical performance of Greek poetry, in addition to holding a group of interactive workshops and joint sessions between Greek and Emirati writers, publishers, and translators, which expands the scope of cultural dialogue and opens a window to the Greek world for visitors.
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