Opening of the photo exhibition "Kafka – A Journey to Vietnamese Readers"

Franz Kafka (July 3, 1883 - June 3, 1924) was a writer born in Prague (now the capital of the Czech Republic) into a German-speaking Jewish family. He primarily wrote in German and during his lifetime traveled extensively through European countries such as Austria, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy for rest and recuperation.

Kafka constantly observed and contemplated the life around him in every place he visited. Many of Kafka's great works were inspired by and created during his time abroad, with content and artistic style reflecting a vision ahead of its time. Therefore, it can be said that the legacy he left behind is a precious treasure for all of humanity, one that we will continue to admire and explore.

Principal Pham Quang Minh, along with the Ambassadors of five countries (Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, France, and Switzerland) to Vietnam, cut the ribbon to inaugurate the exhibition.

Thousands of studies on Kafka have been conducted worldwide. His life, works, and philosophical ideas have never lost their appeal to researchers in all fields and schools of thought. More importantly for literature, he opened up a new source of inspiration for later writers. Kafka is a magnificent monument to subsequent literary and philosophical schools, such as absurdism, magical realism, existentialism, and postmodernism. Today, world-renowned novelists such as Haruki Murakami, Salman Rushdie, and Margaret Atwood are also strongly influenced by Kafka.

In his opening remarks at the exhibition, Professor Pham Quang Minh expressed his gratitude to the Embassies of Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, France, and Switzerland for trusting and choosing the University as the venue for the exhibition, seminar, and writing competition on Kafka.

Professor Pham Quang Minh delivered the opening speech at the ceremony.

Professor Pham Quang Minh emphasized that among the 24 majors and specializations at the university, literature is one of the most important. The Faculty of Literature is among the first faculties, with over 70 years of tradition. Many former students of the Faculty have grown up here, such as General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Mr. Nguyen The Ky (Director General of the Voice of Vietnam Radio).

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Vitezlav Grepl (Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Vietnam) shared his joy and confidence in bringing the series of cultural events within the framework of the Kafka Festival to the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Ambassador Vitezlav Grepl speaks at the ceremony.

Following the exhibition's opening, the organizing committee will continue to collaborate with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, to hold an international conference titled "Kafka and Asian Literature." The conference aims to further research and analyze Kafka's works from the perspective of Vietnamese scholars and translators.

Around the same time, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities will launch a writing competition about Kafka, to further explore the perspectives of today's young generation on this writer.