Mit - Index

Mit - UVK_Sinfo_2008_05_št.10 - Index

s o C i e t y
dR TARAS kERMAuNER dIES
On the threshold of the eight decade of his life, one of the most
interesting Slovene philosophers, writers and thinkers, Dr. Taras
Kermauner, a full member of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences
and Arts, has passed away. He was a member of a group who,
a decade after the Second World War, made Slovene history as
the first influential group to actively oppose the authoritative
social system, successfully softening the dogma of the time and
creating the foundations for a transition into a democratic society.
Kermauner was a person who instinctively refused to be moulded
into formal and other frames of thinking, this being the reason he
was searching for a purpose in life in all directions − in extreme
leftist individualism, in the search for God in Catholicism, and in
the remote attitude of an intellectual, rejecting the trivial values of
everyday life and a self-conceited belief in the nation. All of these
led him into solitude two decades ago, but in recent years he
returned to public life, developing thoughts that are a heartrending
criticism of today’s delusions. His creativity was extraordinary: he
published more that 100 books, not to mention newspaper and
magazine rticles. Most memorable are his analysis of Slovene
drama, titled Reconstructions/Reinterpretations of Slovene
Drama (Rekonstrukcije/reinterpretacije slovenske dramatike),
where he analysed different phenomena in the history of Slovene
society. In drama he saw key elements that influence the Slovene
social consciousness of today. In his last book, Cross Meetings
(Navzkrižna sreËevanja), he analysed the people who influenced
him and the colleagues he worked with.
LENT FESTIvAL OPENS WITH FLAG
RAISING
Raising of a flag announced on 27 May the beginning of the 16th
Lent Festival, the largest music and theatre festival in Slovenia with
some novelties, such as an adventure park and an art camp.
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The festival officially opened with a concert of the Gypsy Queens
and Kings on a floating stage on the Drava river.
The festival, running until 12 July, will feature some 400 concerts,
theatre and dance performances, and other cultural events. The
organisers expect over 500,000 people to visit the events.
THE NATIONAL GALLERY ACQuIRES
TWO MORE PORTRAITS BY SLOvENE
CLASSICISTS
The donation principle, allowing the acquisition of the most
valuable objects of a nation’s history, well established in western
countries, is taking root in Slovenia. In a previous issue we
reported on the precious Slovene impressionist paintings which
were donated to the central Slovene museum of older fine arts
at the National Gallery by the Canadian/Slovene Dr Urbanc,
and now we are able to report another donation. A permanent
collection now holds a portrait of Matija »op by the celebrated
Slovene painter Matevž Langus, and a portrait of Andrej LenËe by
Mihael Stroj; both painters are renowned Biedermaier portraitists.