Photo: Yvonne Most / www.dokmost.de

Valeryja Kustava

Valeryja Kustava, 24, is known as the wild child of the Belarusian literary scene. She published her first collection of poetry when she was only seven. This year, she amazed Berlin audiences with the passionate show "Love me in Belarusian." It was an emotional journey through poetry, complete with Belarusian fire and love of life.

E&M was captivated and wanted to hear more from her. Gert Rohrborn talked to Valeryja Kustava about sexuality, love, Belarusian women and self image.

Gert: What's so special about love in Belarus that it has inspired you to make a programme about it?

Valeryja: My facetious programme "Love me in Belarusian"combines love as an international feeling well-known for everyone with the idea of being Belarusian, on the platform of literature. In Belarus, many people have a problem with national identity. Therefore it is often an outstanding achievement to live and love in the Belarusian way. At first glance, it should be an ordinary thing to do. In my opinion, literature - and especially

poetry - is a good way towards understanding yourself and finding a place in your native country and - for a Belarusian - a place in the world. Another thing is to start explaining to foreigners who we are and what is important in our life. Concepts like that are often not that simple to explain. But if you are able to engage your charisma, intelligence and your sense of humour, it is much easier to explain such things to our neighbours on the planet. I mean German people, for example, whom we have a very good relationship with and cooperate closely with in the context of our cultures and artistic projects.

Gert: Are Belarusian women gorgeous?

Valeryja: It would be a cardinal sin to say otherwise. One of the remarkable features of traditional Belarusian woman and Belarusian poetry is a kind of tender despondency. It's not only Belarusian men who are fascinated by this! Our girls appreciate humour as well. It is important that we, Belarusian women, are able to captivate  energetically. It was not by chance that the audience here, in Germany, reacted to my poems, understood some parts of them because of my presentation and already had fun even before they were translated by actors.

Gert: Russian women also claim to be the prettiest in the world.

Valeryja: They say Slavic women are the prettiest. But it's also important to mention that people often like things that vary from what they are used to and that they see as uncommon. Belarusian girls may like southern Europeans or men with a square chin, because they cannot find such types at home. My mum sometimes jokes that a man married to a tall blonde with great big bosom is dreaming of a small stumpy brunette - and vice versa. He dreams of this not because his wife isn't pretty, clever or can't cook well. Absolutely not. She may well be perfect at everything. A human being just needs something different - it is often in his nature. Something different from what he has. This is a curious side of life.

Gert: You say Belarusian women have a heart of gold. And whom do they welcome into it?

Valeryja: Oh yes, and very much so! I haven't seen a nation before where I could find such a great amount of goodness in the heart. If we take a look at the evolution of Belarusian language we can see obvious changes. Before, they used to say in Belarusian "I feel pity for you" when they were at their lover's feet; this meant "I love you". And even more than that: these words contain not only love and friendship, but much more touching and profound feelings like mercy, understanding, sacrifice etc. Love and pity are combined in the hearts of Belarusian women. They also have huge hearts, indeed, and therefore even today they often face decision-making problems caused by having strong feelings for several people at once. Belarusian women do not fear that there will be no response to their love because they put all their soul into their feelings, concerns and sufferings. A heart which is not supported by the soul cannot pretend to fulfill its function. Although I am smiling as I say this, there is much truth in these words.

Gert: How do you imagine love in German?

Photo: Yvonne Most / www.dokmost.de

Valeryja reading poetry in Berlin

Valeryja: Hm... I think that before answering this question I need to get deeper into German culture and German society, I should try to feel and experience it from inside. Maybe I would be able to answer this question if one day someone were to organize a performance like mine to explain German love and present the character of German nature to me. Only in love do humans show their essence and begin to understand themselves deeply. It is strange for me that here in Germany women can take the first step towards forming a relationship. It is hard to get used to this feeling of total freedom, although it should be obvious. Germans always keep their distance, even in love. I can't get used to that, although I think it isn't a barrier to real love.

Gert: How can I win the heart of a Belarusian girl?

Valeryja: Although Belarus is pretty poor, Belarusians pay attention to spiritual values. At least my friends and the girls I know do so (I think that they are the best examples of Belarusian women). Inviting a girl to a posh restaurant or a trip on a luxurious yacht won't do any good. So you had better read her a Belarusian love poem; one about society will also do if you have nothing else at hand. Make a declaration of love through the words of Belarusian poets and it will be the first step towards loving in the Belarusian way, declare your love in German and it will start in German style. Isn't this true? You have to listen to her. Not all men in Belarus know how to do this, unfortunately. Intelligence is an erogenous zone, remember that! It is for me, anyway. Charisma and intelligence, that's the magic mixture that works on me. In the eighth grade we were asked to write about the man of our dreams and I wrote that he doesn't have to be seven feet tall or have brown eyes, but instead, first of all a man has to be really smart to draw my attention. 

Gert: With whom would you dance the last tango in Minsk?

Valeryja: This place is still vacant... A friend of mine came across the following in a German person's diary: "Buy socks by Saturday, get married by 2010". I don't have such a plan. In Belarus we have a proverb: "It will be the way it should". When my time comes I will meet my happiness with arms wide open.

Gert: Thanks a lot for the interview!

* Translated by Alexander Bereskin, Chryscina Siuchykava and Gert Röhrborn.

* Valeryja Kustava participated in the project Focus on Belarus -Terra Incognita by Citizens of Europe (www.citizens-of-europe.eu, www.artinterventions.eu).