Biography

Ksenia Kharchenko: literary and cultural profile

General overview

Ksenia Kharchenko is a multifaceted Ukrainian cultural figure whose activities include writing, translation, literary editing, journalism, copywriting and cultural management. Her work is distinguished by sharp observation of reality, deep analyticity and emotional insight. She was born in 1984 in Kyiv.

Education and professional activity

Kharchenko graduated from the Institute of Journalism of KNU named after Taras Shevchenko in 2007 with distinction. Since then, her professional biography is closely related to media and cultural initiatives:

  • Docudays UA — international documentary film festival about human rights;
  • GOGOLFEST — festival of contemporary art;
  • The Polish Institute in Kyiv is an active platform for cultural exchange;
  • Yakaboo Publishing is a Ukrainian publishing house where she worked as an editor.

Writing activity

Ksenia started writing very early. Her debut novel "History" was recognized as the best publication of the magazine "Suchasnost" in 2005 and was published the following year by the publishing house "Kalvariya". Her fiction and essay texts:

  • included in anthologies and literary collections;
  • translated into Ukrainian, Polish, German, Czech, Finnish;
  • were published in an international periodical.

The themes of her work cover personal memory, gender, identity, interpersonal relationships and the political context of the everyday.

International residencies and scholarships

Kharchenko is actively involved in the international literary process. She participated in prestigious writing residencies and programs:

  • Homines Urbani (Krakow, 2007);
  • Gaude Polonia (Wrocław, 2012);
  • Lahti International Writer's Reunion (Finland, 2009);
  • Kurzstipendien Residency Program (Austria, 2008);
  • Ventspils, Latvia (2014).

These programs contributed not only to the creative development of the author, but also to the strengthening of cultural ties between Ukraine and other countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

Contribution to the cultural environment

In addition to creativity, Ksenia Kharchenko is an active participant in cultural life. She supports the development of the Ukrainian literary scene, moderating events, working with young authors, and also engaged in cultural diplomacy.

Summary

Ksenia Kharchenko is the personification of modern Ukrainian cultural intelligentsia: mobile, multi-format, internationally recognized. Her creativity and professional activity form a new Ukrainian literary reality, where intelligence is combined with empathy, and writing - with an active civic position.