ΥΨΙΚΑΜΙΝΟΣ / BLAST FURNACE
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Autor:
ANDREAS EMPEIRIKOS
Country:
Greece (GR)
Book Theme:
Poets representing your country poetry
Publisher:
AGRA
Publishing Year:
2011
Andreas Empeirikos was a Greek surrealist poet, writer, photographer, and one of the first Greek psychoanalysts. As a writer, he emerged from the Generation of the ’30s and is considered one of the most important representatives of Greek surrealism. He studied psychoanalysis in France and was the first to practice it as a profession in Greece in the years 1935–1951. Out of his entire literary work, his first collection of poetry, titled Ypsikaminos, stands out as the first purely surrealist Greek text. Among his prose works, his bold erotic novel The Great Eastern was completed over a period of several decades becoming the lengthiest modern Greek novel and was received with both praise and criticism for its libertine nature and highly erotic content.
National Award for Children’s and Young People’s
Abstract
“Ypsikaminos” (translated as “Blast Furnace”) is a seminal work of Greek surrealism by the poet Andreas Empeirikos, first published in 1935. The collection is renowned for its bold and innovative approach to language and form, which broke away from traditional Greek poetry and introduced avant-garde techniques inspired by European surrealism.
Empeirikos’s “Ypsikaminos” is characterized by its stream-of-consciousness style, vivid imagery, and the frequent juxtaposition of disparate elements. The poems in the collection are infused with a dream-like quality, blurring the boundaries between reality and imagination. Empeirikos employs free association, allowing his thoughts to flow unimpeded, creating a rich tapestry of words that evoke powerful emotions and abstract concepts.
Thematically, “Ypsikaminos” explores the depths of the human psyche, touching on subjects such as desire, freedom, and the subconscious mind. Empeirikos delves into the complexities of human experience, often using erotic imagery and surreal landscapes to convey a sense of liberation and transcendence. His language is sensual and provocative, challenging conventional notions of poetry and pushing the boundaries of expression.
The collection’s title, “Ypsikaminos,” suggests a process of intense transformation, akin to the workings of a blast furnace. This metaphor underscores Empeirikos’s vision of poetry as a dynamic force capable of profound change, both for the individual and for society. Through his experimental use of language and form, Empeirikos seeks to ignite the imagination and awaken the reader to new possibilities.
“Ypsikaminos” remains a landmark in Greek literature, marking the advent of surrealism in Greece and cementing Andreas Empeirikos’s legacy as a pioneering poet. The collection continues to be celebrated for its radical departure from tradition and its enduring impact on the evolution of modern Greek poetry.
