The second Translation Atelier for Korean and French Poets wraps up with a poetry reading on Oct. 14 at a bookstore in Sinchon, Seoul. During the event, poet Kang Jeong (right) recites the Korean translation of the poem 'Ceux qui nagent a cote' by Guillaume Fayard (left).
Poets from Korea and France recited each other's poetry in their native languages, their poetry bridging together the two cultures in rhythm and rhyme.
The second Translation Atelier for Korean and French poets kicked off in Seoul on Oct. 10 for four days, with six poets from the two countries in attendance. This was the second time for the poets to get together since their initial meeting in Marseille in May.
The event, jointly organized by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea) and the International Poetry Center of Marseille, brought together six poets, three from each country, to translate poems into each other's native languages with the help of professional translators. Korean poets Park Sangsoon, Yi Ki-Seong, Kang Jeong and French poets Anne Portugal, Pierre Parlant and Guillaume Fayard reunited in Seoul to participate in the program.
As the highlight of the four-day session, the poets presented their translated poems at a poetry reading at a bookstore in Sinchon, Seoul. Kang Jeong recited Guillaume Fayard's poem "Ceux qui nagent a cote" followed by Yi Ki-Seong's take on Anne Portugal's "Et comment nous voila moins epais." Finally, Park Sangsoon gave his reading of Pierre Parlant's "O stupefiant naguer."
French poet Anne Portugal recites her poem 'Comment nous voila moins epais' in the original language at a poetry recital held at a bookstore in Sinchon, Seoul on Oct. 14.
Anne Portugal, who recited a selection of Yi Ki-Seong's poems including "A Tailor's Song" (재단사의 노래), said, "The atelier provided an opportunity for us to look inside the inner depths of strangers. At the same time, we were able to find similarities in our shared pursuit of a kind of lightness in our poetry, regardless of how serious the topic might be."
"Working late into the night with my French colleagues, we were able to exchange our opinions on the diction and poetic form used in Korean and French poetry," said Park Sangsoon, describing his experience. "The program created a literary forum where deep and meaningful exchanges could be made between our two countries. I hope more of these opportunities will be available in the years ahead."
By Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Lee Hana
hlee10@korea.kr
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