On Friday, November 30, the Embassy together with the Writers’ Association of Thailand organized a literature event based on the work of the 2011 Nobel Prize Laureate Tomas Tranströmer. The event was held at the Neilson Hays Library and Galleries in Bangkok.
After an introductory statement by Deputy Head of Mission Christoffer Berg and welcoming speech by Secretary General of the Writers’ Association of Thailand, Ms. Nareepop Jirapotirut, a recital of Tranströmer’s poems in Thai by a former Swedish student, Mr. Pakorn Lertsatienchai, started the program. The recital was followed by an extended presentation of Tomas Tranströmer by Mr. Leif Olsson, a Swedish theatre and film director, actor and reciter. Poems, photos of Tranströmer and his family and also video-clips were part of the presentation. A panel discussion followed, monitored by Mrs. Panadda Lertlum-Ampai, member of the Association and an active board member of the S.E.A Write Awards Committee. Also in the panel were Mr. Sakariya Amataya, translator and also founder of Thai Poets Society (www.thaipoetsociety.com) as well as a recipient of the prestigious S.E.A Writers Award the year 2010. Another distinguished participant was Mrs. Pensri Kiengsiri, translator and well-known novelist and poet in Thailand.
Among the guest were Thai poets, journalists and Swedes living in Thailand.
