Collection of works celebrates "100 years" of the Bu-Ba-Bu (03/17/96)

Collection of works celebrates "100 years" of the Bu-Ba-Bu

by Mark Andryczyk
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

LVIV - Bu-Ba-Bu. To many this may sound like the cry of a wounded child. To those familiar with contemporary Ukrainian culture, however, these three syllables conjure up a world of fantasy, humor and reflection. Bu-Ba-Bu stands for "burlesque, balagan, buffonada," and is the name chosen by of a group of western Ukrainian poets.

The Bu-Ba-Bu was formed in Lviv in April 1985. It consists of Yuri Andrukhovych from Ivano-Frankivske, Viktor Neborak from Lviv and Oleksander Irvanets from Rivne. The group was formed as a means of existence in the waning days of the Soviet Union with a goal of presenting a carnivalized interpretation of life's events and emotions.

Since then, its members have been instrumental in escorting contemporary, avant-garde Ukrainian culture to its public debut. They have organized numerous evenings of poetry and helped stage various music and art festivals, including Vyvykh and Reberytatsia.

Each of the three members of the Bu-Ba-Bu has previously been published individually, and their works have appeared together in several literary journals including Suchasnist, Chetver and Zustrichi.

Until now, however, no publication has included the works of all three Bu-Ba-Bu members exclusively in one book. "Tvory" (Works) was released in the fall of 1995 to commemorate the celebration of 100 years of the Bu-Ba-Bu (their ages, when added together, equal 100).

The 255-page "Tvory" is broken up, by author, into three sections. It was published in Lviv by Kameniar Publishers with a circulation of 2,000 and is illustrated by Lviv artist and long-time Bu-Ba-Bu collaborator Vlodko Kaufman.

Mr. Andrukhovych, the "patriarch" of the Bu-Ba-Bu, fills his section with new works as well as old. Many of the old works first appeared in his individual collection, "Exotic Birds and Plants." What Mr. Andrukhovych does in his section, as do the other Bu-Ba-Bu'ers, is re-organize previously published poems and combine them under new themes.

For example, "Tvory" includes a chapter titled "Samilo Nemyrych and Other Bandits." It is the story of a 17th century bandit who, in pied-piper fashion, holds the city of Lviv hostage by releasing into the city a group of exotic animals from a traveling zoo and demanding a ransom for their return. In the framework of this story, Mr. Andrukhovych re-introduces his writings about exotic animals ("Yekhydna," "Hryphon," "Yedynorih"), infusing them with a series of prose works including "Richka," "Dukh" and "Kolo."

Mr. Andrukhovych's writings often describe a medieval fantasy world, and "Tvory" also includes an excerpt from his second novella, "Recreation," titled "Vechirka z Monstramy."

Mr. Irvanets, on the other hand, deals with more contemporary topics. Of all the members of the Bu-Ba-Bu, his works are the most political. His politics, however, are usually presented in a humorous light.

In his poems Mr. Irvanets often borrows words from other languages, including English, to comical effect. His "Lubit" (Love) is a parody on Sosiura's "Lubit Ukrainu" (Love Ukraine), where he commands the readers to love the state of Oklahoma and other states.

In "Tvory," Mr. Irvanets also includes "A Small Play About Betrayal for One Actress," whose first staging he designates to Kyiv theatrical director Serhiy Proskurnia and his theater-group Budmo.

Mr. Neborak's section, at 100 pages, is the most extensive of the three. His section distinguishes itself from the others by including essays on language and poetry as well as a short, nostalgic look back at the 1980s Lviv cafe society.

Under the subtitle "Shlagery," he groups poems that have been popularized as texts in well-known Ukrainian pop/rock songs. Lviv musicians often use Mr. Neborak's poems as texts for their songs (e.g. Viktor Morozov, Plach Yeremiyi, Mertviy Piven).

"Shlagery" is an attempt to present these works once again as poems, as they were originally written. Mr. Neborak himself fronts an avant-garde rock band, Neborock. Through this project, he strives to unite text and sound in the traditions of the ultimate independent artist - the Ukrainian bard.

Mr. Neborak's section borrows somewhat from his individual publication "Litayucha Holova," "Alter Ego" and "Rozmova Zi Sluhoyo," but contains mostly new writings, including a series of letters and collection of sonnets. At the end of his section, Mr. Neborak previews a chapter from his upcoming novel "Mr. Bazio and the Others."

In all, "Tvory" is a comprehensive, cleverly organized masterpiece from the creative genius of the Bu-Ba-Bu. It provides for a highly entertaining read and serves as an almanac chronicling the Ukrainian literary movement in the decade before the country's independence. As one of the last books published that covers the Ukrainian colonial era, "Tvory" is certain to become as legendary as the Bu-Ba-Bu already are.

Limited copies of "Tvory" are available through the Yeezhak Group. Call (610) 530-8946 for information.

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