Ivana Sajko

Last updated
Ivana Sajko
IvanaSajkoEssen2018.jpg
Born1975 (age 48–49)
Zagreb, SFR Yugoslavia
NationalityCroatian
Occupation(s)Dramaturge, playwright, novelist, theatrical director

Ivana Sajko (born 1975) is a Croatian playwright, novelist, and theater director. Her work, predominantly in the field of contemporary theatre and literature, is recognized for addressing socio-political themes, often influenced by her experiences and observations of contemporary society. Sajko's plays and novels are known for their exploration of complex societal issues and their innovative narrative structure. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Early life and education

Born and raised in Zagreb, Sajko pursued an education in dramaturgy at the Academy of Dramatic Arts at Zagreb University. She later obtained a master’s degree in literature from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the same university. [4]

Career

Sajko's career in the arts began with her debut work, "Naranča u oblacima" ("Orange in the Clouds"), which was recognized with Croatia’s state prize for dramatic texts in 1998. Her body of work includes several novels and numerous theatre pieces. She co-founded the performance collective BadCompany in Zagreb in 2000, where she served as a dramaturg and director until 2005. [5] Her later works predominantly consist of staging her own dramas, exploring the interplay between dramatic text and stage execution, and addressing themes such as war, societal conflicts, and human emotions. [3] [6]

Her play "Woman Bomb" is particularly noted for its critical engagement with socio-political themes. Sajko's work is characterized by its exploration of moral and practical issues, often challenging societal norms and structures. [2] [3]

Sajko's other notable theatrical works include "Archetype: Medea" and "Europa – Monologue for Mother Courage and Her Children." Her novel "Love Novel" ("Liebesroman") received the Internationaler Literaturpreis (International Literature Award) in 2018 for its German translation. The novel examines themes of love and conflict within the context of late capitalism. [7] [8] [9] [10]

In addition to her theatrical productions, Sajko has been involved in various editorial and academic roles. She has served as a guest lecturer at the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb, an editor of the performance art magazine "Frakcija" and the literary magazine "Tema," and hosted a TV show on contemporary theatre, "V-efekt." [4] [5] In 2017, she signed signed the Declaration on the Common Language of the Croats, Serbs, Bosniaks and Montenegrins. [11]

Her play "Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose" was commissioned for the Steirischer Herbst festival in 2008 and premiered with the Wunderbaum theatre group. [12] Another play, "Scenes with an apple," was commissioned for the Stadtheater Bern, premiering in 2009 under the direction of Dora Schneider. Additionally, her text "Introduction to Disjunction" was part of the project “The Encyclopedia of Unlived Life” by Marian Pensotti, commissioned for the Steirischer Herbst Festival 2010. She also collaborated with composer David Simons in 2004 to publish the music CD "Mass for election day silence." [4]

Style and themes

Sajko's work is characterized by its examination of social and political themes. She often employs language and monologues to challenge traditional theatre representations. Her narratives frequently explore female perspectives and societal issues. [1] [2] [3]

Recognition

Sajko has been recognized with awards such as the Chevalier de l’ordre des Arts et Lettres and the Internationaler Literaturpreis. [8] [13] She participated in the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program in 2016/2017. [14] [6]

Bibliography

Novels

Plays and collections

Other works

[4] [15] [16] [13] [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mira Furlan</span> Croatian-American actress and singer (1955–2021)

Mira Furlan was a Yugoslav-American actress and singer. Internationally, she was best known for her roles as the Minbari Ambassador Delenn in the science fiction television series Babylon 5 (1993–1998), and as Danielle Rousseau in Lost (2004–2010), and also appeared in multiple award-winning films such as When Father Was Away on Business (1985) and The Abandoned (2010).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dubravka Ugrešić</span> Croatian writer (1949–2023)

Dubravka Ugrešić was a Yugoslav-Croatian and Dutch writer. A graduate of University of Zagreb, she was based in Amsterdam from 1996 and continued to identify as a Yugoslav writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić</span> Croatian writer (1874–1938)

Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić was a Croatian writer. She has been praised as the best Croatian writer for children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goran Tribuson</span> Croatian prose and screenplay writer (born 1948)

Goran Tribuson is a Croatian prose and screenplay writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marija Jurić Zagorka</span> Croatian journalist, novelist, dramatist

Marija Jurić, known by her pen name Zagorka, was a Croatian journalist, writer and women's rights activist. She was the first female journalist in Croatia and is among the most read Croatian writers.

Croatian literature refers to literary works attributed to the medieval and modern culture of the Croats, Croatia, and Croatian. Besides the modern language whose shape and orthography were standardized in the late 19th century, it also covers the oldest works produced within the modern borders of Croatia, written in Church Slavonic and Medieval Latin, as well as vernacular works written in Čakavian and Kajkavian dialects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivana Lang</span>

Ivana Lang was a Croatian composer, pianist and piano teacher. She was born in Zagreb, Croatia, Austro-Hungarian Empire). She completed piano studies in 1937 at the Music Academy in Zagreb. Ivana Lang composed orchestral works, chamber music, an opera and two ballets, "False Knight" and "Dance of the Ghosts".

International Literature Award is a German literary award for international prose translated into German for the first time. The prize has been awarded annually by the Haus der Kulturen der Welt and the foundation “Elementarteilchen” since 2009. Winning authors receive €20,000 and the translators €15,000. The award has compared as the German near-equivalent of the Best Translated Book Award or Independent Foreign Fiction Prize. In 2020, due to COVID-19 pandemic, the award was given to all six shortlisted titles, with the prize money divided equally.

Darko Lukić is a Croatian theatre scholar, writer, cultural theorist and playwright living and working in Germany. As an expert in multi-disciplinary expert pool for capacity building for European Capitals of Culture worked at audience development program ADESTE+. and Rijeka, European capital of Culture 2020. Lukić also publishes scientific papers and participates in international conferences and seminars and translates from English and Spanish language. He is the member of Programme Board of Maribor 2012, European Capital of Culture 2012. He was a member of the European jury of theatrologists for “Premio Europa per il teatro” award (2009), member of the jury for “Marko Fotez” theatre award of HAZU (Croatian Academy of Science and Arts, president of the Board of Gavella Theatre, editor in Hrvatsko glumište magazine HDDU, artistic advisor of HAVC, Hrvatski audiovizualni centar, artistic advisor of Ministry of Culture - Ministarstvo kulture RH and HRT for film, member of the Cultural Council for Performing Arts of Croatian Ministry of Culture, president of the Theatre Committee of the City of Zagreb, member of the Council for International Cultural Cooperation of the City of Zagreb, and President of the Cultural Council for International Cooperation Ministry of Culture - Ministarstvo kulture RH, and member of Croatian centre of PEN International, member of IETM, CAE, ENCATC, Memory Studies Association, IFTR and EASTAP.

Ivana Šojat is a Croatian writer from Osijek. She published poetry, novellas, essays, short stories and novels, the most famous of which is Unterstadt.

Helena Minić-Matanić is a Croatian film, stage and television actress. Her debut role was in the 2003 multiple award-winning Bosnian film Remake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivana Bodrožić</span> Croatian writer and poet

Ivana Bodrožić is a Croatian writer and poet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jagoda Truhelka</span> Croatian novelist and pedagogue

Jagoda Truhelka was a Croatian novelist and pedagogue. A native of Slavonia, Truhelka worked as teacher and headmistress in Osijek, Zagreb, Gospić, Banja Luka, and Sarajevo. Her novels are notable for focusing on female characters and discussing women's rights, but Truhelka is best known for her children's literature.

Lenka Udovički is a Serbian theater director, opera director and activist based in Croatia. She is the Artistic Director of Ulysses Theater and co-founder of the School of Acting and Media at the University of Rijeka. She is married to actor Rade Šerbedžija.

Aleksandra Saša Broz is a Croatian theatre and television director. She has worked for several theatres in Croatia and one in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jasna Horvat</span> Croatian writer, cultural theorist and professor

Jasna Horvat is a Croatian writer, cultural theorist, and professor at the University of Osijek. She writes novels, essays, and books for children and youth, as well as academic works. Most of her works have been assessed as Oulipian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anita Andreis</span> Croatian film composer

Anita Andreis (Zganec) is a Croatian composer, singer-songwriter, musician and producer in the field of film music. Andreis has worked on a variety of films, theatre and ballet productions, both independent and commercial. She has won three Best Film Music Awards for her musical scores to the animation films Guliver and Bobo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theatre of Croatia</span>

Theatre in Croatia refers to the history of the performing arts in Croatia, or theatrical performances written, acted and produced by Croatians. Croatian theatre generally falls into the Western theatre tradition, with influences especially from Italy, Germany, Austria and other European nations.

Ivana Franke is a Croatian contemporary visual artist who currently lives and works in Berlin, Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sibila Petlevski</span> Croatian poet

Sibila Petlevski is a Croatian writer of Macedonian descent, who is a poet, playwright, and Professor at the Academy of Dramatic Arts, University of Zagreb.

References

  1. 1 2 Zlatar-Violić, Andrea. "Culture of Memory or Cultural Amnesia: The Uses of the Past in the Contemporary Croatian Novel" . Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  2. 1 2 3 "The woman behind the Bomb". The Age. 2005-06-25. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Govedic, Natasa (2006). "The trauma of apathy : two playwrights of post-Yugoslav nowhereland (Ivana Sajko and Biljana Srbljanović)". Revue des Études Slaves. 77 (1): 203–216. doi:10.3406/slave.2006.7002.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Ivana Sajko". www.croatian-literature.hr. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  5. 1 2 "Kontejner › › Ivana Sajko (HR)". www.kontejner.org. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  6. 1 2 3 "Berliner Künstlerprogramm – Portrait Ivana Sajko". www.berliner-kuenstlerprogramm.de. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  7. ↑ IGO (2023-10-26). "Love Novel". Dublin Literary Award. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  8. 1 2 "Ivana Sajko wins International Literature Award – DW – 06/28/2018". dw.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  9. ↑ "Love in the Time of Capitalism: Rage and Resentment in Ivana Sajko's "Love Novel," Translated from Croatian by Mima Simić". Reading in Translation. 2022-05-30. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  10. ↑ Morgan, Ann (2022-08-31). "Book of the month: Ivana Sajko". A year of reading the world. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  11. ↑ "Deklaracija o zajedničkom jeziku". Jezici i nacionalizmi. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  12. ↑ agnes_laterrasse (2014-01-21). "Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose". Journal La Terrasse (in French). Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  13. 1 2 "Ivana Sajko". @GI_weltweit. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  14. ↑ "Ivana Sajko". international literature festival berlin. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  15. ↑ "Ivana Sajko". BADco. 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  16. ↑ Hülshoff, Burg. "Ivana Sajko – Burg Hülshoff". Ivana Sajko. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.