Judith Schalansky Named Frankfurt Poetics Chair; Discusses World Radius and Creative Process
Judith Schalansky, renowned for her excursions into scholarly research and poetic language, has been appointed to the prestigious Frankfurt Chair of Poetics for the 2025 summer semester. The announcement, a boon for literary enthusiasts across the globe, brings forth immediate insights into her unique perspective on world appropriation, cultural consolation, and the intricate dance between loss and literature.
Places of Creation and the Role of Collecting
In her conversation with UniReport, Schalansky mentioned her preference for writing at the Berlin State Library. She emphasizes the serene yet socially connected environment the library provides, stating, “The library is my natural habitat, maybe also because I consider my writing a form of research.” For Schalansky, writing is deeply connected to collecting, a mode of world appropriation wherein the process of collecting materials, topics, and images serves as a precursor to making the world her own.
Loss and Materiality in Literary Work
Schalansky’s poetic explorations delve into the troughs of loss, engaging deeply with the traces and signs left behind. Her work often creates a presence out of the absent, a compelling exploration of materiality and loss. “It’s both – and they are interlinked,” she states, referring to the interconnection between threatened or suffered loss and the urgency to engage artistically with the matter at hand. “Things become invested with meaning – magical thinking begins.”
Growing Up in the GDR and Its Impact
Schalansky’s experiences in the GDR and her memories of its transformative moments have influenced her literary career. Raised during the turbulent times leading up to German reunification, her work bears the imprints of formative experiences and the allure of utopian thinking. “It could all be different” – this dual recognition of terror and allure continues to serve as a driving force in her writing.
Book Design and Its Intrinsic Connection to Text
Given her background in design, Schalansky argues for the indispensability of book form to the text. Her award-winning books, such as “Atlas of Remote Islands” and “The Giraffe’s Neck”, demonstrate the intricate balance between literary content and design. She believes that “writing requires not just peace and quiet but also access to books. The library is my natural habitat, maybe also because I consider my writing a form of research.”
Marble, Mercury, Mist: Exploring New Terrain
Under the intriguing title “Marble, Mercury, Mist: What the World Is Made Of,” Schalansky’s Frankfurt Poetics Lectures promise a deep dive into the broader scope of art, poetry, and literature. Suggesting themes of materiality and the state of the world, the lectures are set to trace the complex relationships between humanity and the globe. The public reading at the Frankfurt Literaturhaus on July 2, 2025, will likely offer further insights into her understanding of the world and its literary representation.
As Schalansky prepares to assume the Frankfurt Chair of Poetics, her profound insights into collecting, loss, and the integrative role of creative process promise to inspire both established and budding artists alike. Her work stands as a testament to the transcendent power of literature to console, contextualize, and elevate our understanding of the world.
