Vahur Afanasjev

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Vahur Afanasjev
File:Vahur Afanasjev 26.3.2008 Tartus romaani Kosmos esitlusel (f Mika Keränen).jpg
Vahur Afanasjev at the presentation of his novel "Kosmos" in Tartu Literature House, 2008.
Born (1979-08-24) 24 August 1979 (age 44)
Tartu, Estonia
Pen name Vahur [€] Afanasjev
Nationality Estonian
Literary movement Tartu NAK
Website
afanasjev.blogspot.com

Vahur Afanasjev (born 24 August 1979) is an Estonian writer, filmmaker and musician.

Afanasjev graduated from the University of Tartu in 2002, majoring in economic policy. He has been a member of a literary group Noorte Autorite Koondis (NAK) (English: Young Authors' League) since 1998, and a member of the Estonian Writers' Union since 2006. He has worked as journalist, media analyst, copywriter, creative director and PR officer.

2005-2010 Afanasjev lived in Brussels, Belgium.

Writings

Afanasjev began his writing career with poems and lyrics in 1995. In 1997-98 he published three poetry collections on the internet. His first poems were published in the Estonian literary magazine Vikerkaar in 1998. He has published three poetry books, one book of short stories and three novels. His works have been published in several collections of various authors in Finnish, Russian, Romanian, Dutch and Hungarian.

Poetry:

  • Kandiline maailm (Square World) 2000
  • Kaantega viin (Wrapped Vodka or Folded Vienna or I Take with Covers) 2004
  • Katedraal Emajões (Cathedral in Mother River) 2006
  • Eesti vaarao (Estonian Pharaoh) 2013
  • Kuidas peab elama (How Should We Live) 2014
  • Tünsamäe tigu (Snail from Tünsamäe) 2015

Novels:

  • Kastraat Ontariost (A Castrato from Ontario) 2005
  • Kaadrid otsustavad (Shots Decide) 2007
  • Kosmos (Cosmos) 2008
  • Kanepi kirik (Ganja Church or The Church of Kanepi Village) 2002 (a book of short stories)

Non-fiction:

  • Minu Brüssel (My Brussels) 2011

His style is described as socially critical magic realism flavoured with obscurities. His characters include parasite worms, murderers, corrupted journalists, robots and lonely gay men. "...this year saw the publication of his short novel Cosmos. This is a peculiar tale that could be characterised as Brokeback Mountain meets Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." [1]

Music

Afanasjev also makes electronic music (project tra_art), punkish eclectic guitar rock, blues and country (project Kurluk Ulica) and experimental noisepop (project Kannibal Elektor). A CD of tra_art was published with Vahur Afanasjev's book "Kanepi kirik" (2002). Two of his recordings were on CD of the singing writers.[2]

He has also written lyrics for Orelipoiss, Skriimsilm and Päris Anny.

Film

Afanasjev has made experimental short films since 2006, and has used photos and Microsoft Powerpoint in film production. In June 2008 presented his autobiographical documentary film Where Dreams End and was threatened with a court case concerning that. The film had official premiere on Eclectica festival,.[3] In April 2009 finished production of documentary film Rong Way about the complicated train travel between Estonia and Western Europe.

References

  1. Younger Estonian Prose by Peeter Helme
  2. Laulvad Kirjanikud published by Kirjandusfestival Prima Vista in 2007
  3. http://tartu.postimees.ee/310808/tartu_postimees/kultuur/341269.php

External links