Honoring a literary giant

Erbil exhibition celebrates life and works of Franz Kafka

2024-09-23 | 19:58

ERBIL — An exhibition honoring the life and works of world-renowned author Franz Kafka opened Monday in Erbil, and will run through Sept. 30, with hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Franz Kafka, born in 1883 in Prague, was a German-speaking writer from what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Regarded as one of the 20th century’s most significant authors, Kafka’s works often explore themes of alienation, bureaucracy, guilt, and the absurdity of human existence. He died in 1924 at the age of 40.

The exhibition, organized by the Czech Consulate General in Erbil, is being held at the Media Gallery in Erbil. It features graphic displays illustrating Kafka’s life and literary contributions.

The opening ceremony was attended by Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw, Czech Consul General Karel Kortánek, and several writers and artists.

A statement from the Erbil governorate emphasized the exhibition’s importance in “strengthening cultural and artistic ties between the Kurdistan Region and the Czech Republic.”

Kafka’s major novels include “The Trial,” published posthumously in 1925, which examines themes of guilt and bureaucracy through the story of Josef K., a man inexplicably prosecuted by a an absurdist legal system.

Another key work, “The Castle,” published in 1926, follows a man known as “K.” as he attempts to gain access to an elusive authority figure in a village dominated by impenetrable bureaucracy.

“The Metamorphosis,” Kafka’s 1915 novella, is perhaps his most famous work. It tells the story of Gregor Samsa, a man who wakes up transformed into a giant insect, dealing with themes of alienation and identity.

His personal writings, such as Letters to Felice and his Diaries, also offer insight into his thoughts on writing, his personal struggles, and the anxieties that pervade much of his fiction.