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The upcoming exhibition in 2027

Pre-sale of Valdur Mikita’s book “Leśtonia”

What stories lie hidden amongst the trees, herbs and mushrooms? How does modernity intersect with ancient beliefs, the workings of the imagination and traces of Finno-Ugric culture? We invite you to read the essays and sketches by this Estonian author, which paint a portrait of the country from many, often surprising, perspectives. On 11 September, we are launching the pre-sale of this book, which tells the story of Estonia through its forests, wetlands, rivers, back gardens and remote summer cottages.

In “Leśtonia”, Valdur Mikita creates a mythogeography of his country – seeking connections between the landscape and language, memory and ways of experiencing the world. In these essays, the Estonian forest is a place for gathering mushrooms and herbs, a space where ancient beliefs, family tales and traces of Finno-Ugric culture have survived, but also a refuge from wars and a framework for the workings of the imagination.

The author moves effortlessly from childhood memories to linguistics, ethnology, neurology, geology and palaeontology. He combines erudition with humour and imagination, painting a portrait of Estonia as a country where the modern still coexists with the archaic and untamed.

The Polish volume brings together essays and sketches drawn from several of the author’s books. The selection was made and translated from Estonian by Anna Michalczuk-Podlecki.

“Leśtonia” is the fourth volume in the Ister series, edited by Paulina Małochleb and Bartosz Sadulski.

The book is available for pre-order on the ICC Bookshop website

Two copies of Valdur Mikita’s book Leštonia i inne eseje shown with their green dust jackets unfolded. The owl illustration on a wooden background and the text on the back of the jacket are visible.
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