Spaseska’s poetics is an amalgamation of the intimate lyrical worldview and the collective sense of urgency that reflects the ethos of our times. Thus, her timely and pertinent poetry gives an emotional, yet powerful voice to the young generation.
Biography
Aleksandra Spaseska (1984) lives and works in Skopje. She is a poet, journalist, translator, author and activist, with engagements in the civil sector as a researcher and mentor.
“Plain Poems [whom do you think of when death thinks of you]” is her first published book of poetry, published by PNV Publications (2023). Her second poetry manuscript, “Coordinates of Pain”, was shortlisted for the 2023 Antevo Pero Award and was awarded the Antev zlatnik recognition. For the poem “There have been days” she received the second prize at the International Poetry Festival “Angelo La Vecchia” (“Il Parnaso – Concorso di Poesia – Premio Angelo La Vecchia”) which in cooperation with the Association for the Development of Culture and Protection of Cultural Heritage “Context – Strumica” awarded the prize for the best unpublished poetic work “Antevo slovo” for 2024.
Her poetry has so far been published in several online editions, including the literary supplement “Sh” of the student magazine “Izlez”; as well as printed anthologies, including the Anthology of Young Macedonian Avant-Garde Poetry; she is the first poet from the country represented in the literary magazine The San Antonio Review (2012) from San Antonio, Texas; she was a participant in the “Astalni Proekcii” poetry readings and is represented in the collection of the same name; she was published in the panorama “Dopir” (2019), and the literature magazine “Sovremenost”; has participated in several editions of the poetry event “100 thousand poets for change” as an author and translator; at the manifestation on the occasion of the International Day of Cultural Diversity of the UN and UNESCO, organized by PEN, as well as at the “Pesnilo” manifestation, organized by Youth Center-Skopje. Her poetry is also part of “Samodivi: a panorama of Macedonian poetry written by women, from the revival to today”, and of the collection “Poetsko Markukule” of the association Club of Literary Creators-Prilep.
Outstanding title:
PLAIN POEMS [WHOM DO YOU THINK OF WHEN DEATH THINKS OF YOU] (2023)
In “Plain Poems”, Spaseska weaves from two threads inspired by Eros and Thanatos, that eternal bond that these two energies carry. While reading, one immediately feels that poetic charge and urge to write about the most painful and inspiring topics in poetry – love’s pain and death. Her unconventional view of love that goes beyond moral and sometimes real, and loss as a universal human sorrow, allows her to build a “museum of pain” in the book. “Plain Poems” carries the author’s voice that appears as if a dream or in moments of deep, thoughtful insight and leads us through the labyrinths of what she is.
No. of pp: 85
Rights:
Aleksandra Spaseska
aleksandraspaseska1984@gmail.com
Latest title:
COORDINATES OF PAIN (2024)
As the author boldly investigates important scenes, intimate relations and outstanding figures of her life, she successfully shows that poetry can indeed be used as a reflection of the personal and the collective experience. Spaseska’s poetry book builds a bridge between intimate and political aspects of life, but also between the outside and the inside word, the memories of the place where she was raised and born, and here chosen home. In this way, Spaseska’s poetry communicates the experiences, troubles and hopes of a whole generation.
No. of pp: 95
Awards and honors:
- The book (in manuscript) was shortlisted for the 2023 “Antevo Pero” Award
- “Antev zlatnik” recognition in 2023
Rights:
Ilika Publishing Skopje
ilika.publishing@gmail.com