Khlebnikov’s Legacy Explored at International Conference in Moscow

From September 16 to 18, Moscow hosted the international academic conference “The Universe of Velimir Khlebnikov”, organized by Moscow State Linguistic University (MSLU) and the Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences. This large-scale scholarly event was dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the birth of the Russian poet and thinker.

The conference, focused on the study of the Russian avant-garde, brought together researchers from China, Japan, Italy, Portugal, the United States, and other countries, as well as from different regions of Russia.

The official opening of the conference took place at the Gorky Institute of World Literature, while the plenary session, section meetings, and the presentation of the “Avant-Garde Workshop” led by Sergey Biryukov were hosted at MSLU. The day at MSLU concluded with two vibrant artistic events: readings of Khlebnikov’s poetry in various languages and a musical-poetic performance by Sergey Biryukov, Sergey Letov, and Svetlana Biryukova.

All participants of the conference agreed that the figure of Velimir Khlebnikov represents a unique phenomenon that brings together people of different ages, countries, and nationalities. In a time of global turbulence and the search for cultural reference points for the future, turning to Khlebnikov and the legacy of the Russian avant-garde carries not only scholarly significance, but also serves as a source of spiritual unity, shaping shared values and creating new opportunities for dialogue between cultures and generations.