NILAVRONILL TALKING WITH
POET OF THE MONTH
NATAŠA RADANOVIĆ
NILAVRONILL: Why do literature and
poetry in particular interest you so much? Please give us some idea about your
own perception of literature or poetry in general.
NATAŠA RADANOVIĆ: My connection with literature and poetry began in my earliest
childhood. For me, words have always been much more than a means of
communication — they have been a way to understand the world, to express my
emotions, and to preserve the moments, memories, and values that a person
carries within. Since I can remember, I have felt a deep need to create. Poetry
became my inner conversation with life, with nature, with people, and with all
those invisible forces that shape us as human beings. I believe that a poem is
born when the heart has something essential to express. For me, literature
represents a bridge that connects people of different nations, cultures, and
generations. A sincere word has the power to transcend borders and find its way
to the reader’s soul, regardless of the language they speak. Poetry is a space
where emotion and thought, reality and imagination, the transience of life and
the eternal come together. Through my creative work, I strive to preserve
beauty, love, spirituality, and human values, because I believe that the
purpose of art is to leave light behind.
NILAVRONILL: Do you believe that
your literary self is actually an extension of your soul? We would like to know the factors and the
peoples who have influenced you immensely in the growing phase of your literary
life.
NATAŠA RADANOVIĆ: I believe that my literary self
is truly an extension of my soul, because every poem carries a part of my life
experiences, emotions, memories, and my understanding of the world. Writing is
not only an artistic expression for me; it is a deep inner need to preserve
through words everything that is meaningful and valuable. My creative journey
began in my earliest childhood. I was born in Foča and grew up in Goražde, an
environment that deeply shaped my connection with nature, people, tradition,
and the values that remain with us throughout life. My greatest influences came
from my family — my parents, my grandmother, and my grandfather — from whom I
inherited love for kindness, humanity, family values, and the beauty of simple
things. From a very young age, I felt a close connection with different forms
of art. At the age of nine, I received my first award for a written work at a
municipal competition, which became one of the first important encouragements
on my creative path. During my school years, I was involved in various artistic
activities, including recitation, drama, presenting, and visual arts. These
experiences helped me develop a deeper understanding of expression, words,
performance, and creativity. My artistic path later continued through different
forms of creation. I studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade,
Department of Photography, where I further developed my sense of visual
expression, composition, and the stories that images can tell. Today, I live
and create in Sweden, but I carry within me all my roots, memories, and
experiences. My writing is inspired by spirituality, love, homeland, humanity,
nature, and the eternal questions of life. Everything I have lived and felt has
become a part of my poetic voice.
NILAVRONILL: Do you think the
primary obligation of a poet should be to communicate with the temporal as well
as with the eternal essence of life and the universe? If so, how can one fulfil
that particular obligation?
NATAŠA RADANOVIĆ: I believe that the deepest
responsibility of a poet is to be a voice of humanity, life, and the eternal
values that connect us all. A poet does not speak only about the moment in
which they live, but also seeks to reach those timeless truths — love, peace,
faith, kindness, truth, and hope. For me, poetry is not only a beautiful
arrangement of words; it is a message of humanity. Through poetry, a poet can
remind people of the value of life, the importance of peace among individuals
and nations, and the need to protect nature and the world we leave for future
generations. I stand for peace in the world, against all forms of violence,
against wars and destruction that bring suffering to innocent people. I believe
that art has the power to unite, to heal, and to remind humanity that we are
all part of one greater community. My poetic journey is also connected with
humanitarian work. I have organized humanitarian exhibitions and events, and I
have shared my art and my poetry with those who needed support. I believe that
art achieves its greatest purpose when it brings kindness and helps others.
Through my creative work, I write about spirituality, love, homeland, children,
humanity, and universal values. Spiritual poetry has a special place in my
work, including my poem dedicated to Saint Petka. For me, a poet is someone who
preserves light in times when the world needs it the most. True poetry does not
belong only to one nation or one period of history — it belongs to every heart
that finds truth within it.
NILAVRONILL: It is an established
fact that every poet should create his or her own poetic language as an unique
literary signature that would eventually keep him or her alive beyond his or
her time. I would like to know your personal experience in this regard, and how
can one achieve that unique literary language in his or her lifetime?
NATAŠA RADANOVIĆ: I believe that every poet
gradually discovers and develops their own poetic voice throughout life. This
voice does not appear overnight; it is created through life experiences,
emotions, memories, reading, observing the world, and maintaining an honest relationship
with oneself and others. My poetic expression has grown from everything I carry
within me — from my childhood, my roots, my love for nature, spirituality,
humanity, and life itself. I believe that a poet should not search only for
beautiful words, but for truthful words, because sincerity is what gives poetry
its strength and uniqueness. As a poet and visual artist, I strive to connect
different forms of creativity. Painting, poetry, photography, acting, and stage
performance are, for me, different languages of the same inner need — the need
to express the invisible and to share beauty, emotion, and a message with
others. My art brings together the spiritual, the traditional, and the modern
into one harmonious whole, creating a unique expression where words and images
become intertwined. In my creative work, I write spiritual, love, patriotic,
and children’s poetry, as well as stories and fairy tales. Although these
themes are different, they are connected by one common thread: faith in
kindness, love, beauty, and the value of the human soul. I believe that a
unique poetic language is not created by deliberately trying to be different,
but by remaining faithful to one’s own heart and personal journey. When a poet
creates from the deepest part of their being, their words gradually become
their recognizable signature. For me, poetic language is like a fingerprint of
the soul — unique, sincere, and unforgettable.
NILAVRONILL: Literature
encompasses every aspect of life, it blends the various shades and textures of
human aspirations as well as drawbacks. It also lights up the new horizons and
new dimensions of human capabilities relentlessly. I would like to know your
particular viewpoints; how do you relate all these in your own writings?
NATAŠA RADANOVIĆ: Literature, for me, is a mirror of life in
which all human joys and sorrows, strengths and weaknesses, hopes and fears
come together. I believe that a poet does not create outside of life, but from
everything that surrounds them and everything they deeply feel. In my creative
work, I strive to portray different layers of human existence — love,
spirituality, homeland, family values, childhood, nature, faith, as well as the
challenges that people face throughout life. My wish is to discover beauty
through words, both in moments of happiness and in moments of difficulty. I
write different forms of literature and explore various themes — spiritual,
love, patriotic, and children’s poetry, as well as stories and fairy tales.
Each of these forms represents a part of my inner world. It is especially
important for me to preserve values such as kindness, humanity, love, hope, and
faith in a better tomorrow. As a visual artist and painter, I also connect my
literary expression with images. Colour, light, form, and words share a common
power for me — the power to express what sometimes cannot be explained through
only one form of communication. I believe that art has the ability to broaden
human horizons and to show that even in the most difficult moments there is
always a possibility for beauty, forgiveness, growth, and a new beginning. My
writing is, essentially, a search for the light within every human being and
for those invisible threads that connect us all.
NILAVRONILL: No literature can survive
without communicating with different languages and cultures, as well as various
traditions and heritages. I would like to know your opinion regarding the
growth and evolution of the literature of your motherland.
NATAŠA RADANOVIĆ: The literature of my people
represents a rich treasury of language, history, spirituality, and collective
memory. For centuries, it has preserved identity, tradition, and values that
have been passed from one generation to another. A special place within this
heritage belongs to the Serbian language and the Cyrillic script, which
represent an important part of cultural identity. The Slavic literacy
tradition, greatly shaped by the work of Saints Cyril and Methodius and their
followers, left a profound mark on the culture of many peoples. For centuries,
Cyrillic has been a carrier of books, spirituality, education, and the written
word. I believe that language is not only a means of communication — it is the
memory of a people, its soul, and a testimony of its existence. The spoken and
written word has a special value in the tradition from which I come. My roots
are from Montenegro, where a person’s word has always been deeply respected and
where keeping one’s promise represented honour, dignity, and responsibility.
The values of ancestors were passed from generation to generation. Throughout
history, Serbian literature has carried great themes — freedom, suffering,
faith, love, the human struggle for dignity, and the search for meaning. It preserves
history and memory, while at the same time continuing to develop and
communicate with the modern world. I believe that tradition is not an obstacle
to progress, but a strong root from which new creativity can grow. Today,
living and creating in Sweden, I feel even more strongly the importance of
cultural connection. Literature has the power to become a bridge between
nations, because despite different languages and cultures, human emotions
remain universal.
NILAVRONILL: Literature
encompasses every aspect of life, it blends the various shades and textures of
human aspirations as well as drawbacks. It also lights up the new horizons and
new dimensions of human capabilities relentlessly. I would like to know your
particular viewpoints; how do you relate all these in your own writings?
NATAŠA RADANOVIĆ: For me, art represents a great
conversation between human beings and the world. It allows us to see more
deeply, to understand different aspects of human existence, and to discover
beauty even where life is complex and challenging. In my creative work, I
strive to connect different dimensions of human experience — the personal and
the universal. My poems, stories, and fairy tales are born from emotions,
memories, spirituality, love for humanity, nature, and the values that unite
us. A special place in my work belongs to the connection between different
forms of art. As a poet, painter, and visual artist, I feel that words,
colours, and images are different paths leading toward the same essence — the
need to express what cannot always be said through ordinary language. My
creative work includes spiritual, love, patriotic, and children’s poetry, as
well as stories and fairy tales. In each of these forms, I search for the human
being — their strength, vulnerability, dreams, and their ability to love,
forgive, and create. I believe that art has the power to expand the boundaries
of human understanding. It teaches us that differences do not separate people;
instead, through diversity, we can discover the richness of the world. My
purpose as an artist is to create works that carry light, hope, and the message
that within every human being there is always the possibility of kindness and a
new beginning.
NILAVRONILL: We cannot live immune to
the sociopolitical disturbances of our surroundings. How much these
disturbances make substantial impacts upon your literary self? Do you actually
respond to all these factors through your words? I mean in your poetry,
especially.
NATAŠA RADANOVIĆ: As an artist, I believe that a
poet cannot be completely separated from the world in which they live.
Everything a person experiences, sees, and feels leaves a mark on the soul, and
therefore becomes a part of their creative expression. I am an independent
artist. I am not a member of any political party, nor do I want my art to be
limited by any ideology. I have chosen the path of independent creativity
because I believe that a poet must preserve the freedom of their voice and the
right to speak from the heart. My poetry is not political speech; it is the
voice of a human being. My greatest message is a message of peace, love,
humanity, and understanding among people. I stand against wars and all forms of
violence, because the greatest suffering is always carried by innocent people,
especially children. My personal experience of war has left a deep mark on me.
I went through difficult times and had to leave my home during the war in
Bosnia and Herzegovina. Later, during the bombing in 1999, as a pregnant woman,
with my small child in my arms and my family beside me, I experienced fear and
uncertainty while hiding in a shelter. Those memories strengthened my belief
that peace is the greatest value humanity must protect. That is why I believe
that the role of a poet is to bring comfort, hope, and light. A poet should be
someone who heals through words, who reminds people of kindness, and who
preserves humanity in times when it is most threatened. I also stand for the
preservation of nature and a healthy environment, because people cannot truly
be happy if they do not respect the Earth on which they live. Through my
poetry, I do not wish to deepen divisions, but to build bridges — between
people, cultures, and hearts.
NILAVRONILL: Is it possible to put
into the words everything that as a poet you wish to express literarily? If
not, why?
NATAŠA RADANOVIĆ: I believe that words are one of
the greatest gifts a human being possesses, but I also believe that there are
feelings and moments that go beyond the limits of language. A poet often
carries within the heart much more than can be placed on paper. There are deep
emotions, memories, spiritual experiences, and moments of silence that cannot
be completely explained through words. Sometimes a single look, a tear, a
moment of silence, or a feeling can speak more than a thousand verses. However,
it is precisely this inability to express everything completely that brings a
poet back to words again and again. A poet constantly searches for the right
word, the right rhythm, and the right image in order to come closer to what
they carry within the soul. For me, poetry is a conversation between the
visible and the invisible. Through my verses, I try to express love,
spirituality, memories, pain, joy, hope, and everything that makes us human. As
an artist who also expresses herself through painting, I feel that sometimes
colour and image can say what words cannot. Therefore, poetry and painting are,
for me, two different paths toward the same truth. Perhaps a poet can never
express absolutely everything they carry within, but it is precisely this
search for the impossible that creates the most beautiful art.
NILAVRONILL: Do you think literary criticism
has much to do with the development of a poet and the true understanding of his
or her poetry?
NATAŠA RADANOVIĆ: I believe that literary
criticism plays a very important role in the development of a poet and in the
deeper understanding of poetry. It is not only an evaluation of a work, but a
valuable dialogue between the poet, the creative work, and the readers. Sometimes,
while creating, a poet is not consciously aware of every layer contained within
their words. Certain images, symbols, and messages emerge from deep and
subconscious sources of the soul. Therefore, it is precious when experienced
literary critics and scholars recognize meanings that even the author may not
have fully discovered. I have had the honour of receiving significant critical
reflections from writers, philosophers, and poets from India, as well as from
authors from my own cultural background. Their insights helped me to look more
deeply into my own poetic expression and the values carried by my verses. I
believe that good literary criticism should not limit a poet within certain
boundaries, but should help the poet understand their artistic journey more
clearly. It reveals layers of a work, its symbolism, the power of language, and
the emotions that reach the reader. I would like every valuable poem to receive
a thoughtful literary review and critical reflection, because in this way a
work receives another life — through interpretation, dialogue, and a deeper
connection with readers. A poet creates from the heart, but literary criticism
helps that voice to be heard and understood more clearly.
NILAVRONILL: How would you evaluate
your contemporaries and what are your aspirations for or expectation from the
younger generation?
NATAŠA RADANOVIĆ: I believe that our time is rich
with different artistic voices, and that every sincere creator brings something
unique to the world of literature. Poetry lives through diversity — through
different styles, themes, languages, and perspectives. I respect my
contemporaries, and I am happy to see poets who preserve the beauty of words,
depth of thought, and the sincere need for creative expression. I believe that
every true artist has their own path and their own moment when their voice
finds its readers. From the younger generation, I expect above all sincerity,
perseverance, and love for art. Young poets should read, learn from great
creators, but most importantly, they should discover their own voice and remain
faithful to themselves. The world changes quickly, but fundamental human values
remain the same. Love, kindness, compassion, truth, and the desire for a better
world will always be themes that connect people. My advice to young creators is
not to create only for recognition, but from an inner necessity. Art requires
patience, dedication, and faith in what we carry within ourselves. I believe in
younger generations and their ability to bring new energy, new ideas, and new
forms of expression, while still respecting roots, culture, and the values that
connect us.
NILAVRONILL: We are almost at the end
of the interview. I remain obliged to you for your participation. Now,
personally I would like to know your honest opinion about Our Poetry Archive.
Since April 2015 we are publishing and archiving contemporary world poetry each
and every month. Thank you for sharing your views and spending much time with
us.
NATAŠA RADANOVIĆ: First of all, I would like to
express my deepest and most sincere gratitude to Our Poetry Archive for the
honour, trust, and opportunity to have my poetry become a part of this
important international literary space. It is a great joy for me that my poems
have already reached readers through this journal, and that my poetry will also
be presented in future editions. For every poet, it is a special moment when
their words cross the borders of one country and meet people of different
languages, cultures, and traditions. I see Our Poetry Archive as a valuable
bridge connecting poets from all over the world. Its work has great importance
because it preserves and presents contemporary world poetry, giving space to
different voices, cultures, and perspectives on life. I am especially honoured
to come into contact with the culture of India — a country of rich history,
spirituality, wisdom, and deep respect for diversity. I believe that poetry and
art teach us to discover what connects us rather than what separates us. I
respect all nations, all languages, all cultures, and all traditions of the
world. I believe that every person carries a unique story, and that every
culture represents a precious part of the great mosaic of humanity. As a poet
and artist, my wish is to spread messages of peace, love, kindness, humanity,
and understanding among people through my words and my paintings. I believe
that poets have the responsibility to preserve the beauty of language, to bring
comfort to those who suffer, and to build bridges between hearts through their
creativity. I am endlessly grateful that my poetry has found its place in this
journal and that I have been given the opportunity to become a part of this
great global poetic family. Thank you for your trust, your dedication to
poetry, and for preserving this great treasury of words that connects people
throughout the world. I wish Our Poetry Archive many more successful years,
endless inspiration, and many beautiful verses that will continue to spread the
light of poetry
NATAŠA RADANOVIĆ is an artist, poet,
and painter of Serbian nationality and Montenegrin roots, born in 1971 in Foča.
She completed her education in Goražde and later studied at the Academy of Fine
Arts. From an early age, she expressed her artistic talent through visual arts,
acting, recitation, and music. She writes poetry and prose, and her works have
been published in numerous anthologies, collections, and literary magazines
worldwide. She is the recipient of several prestigious awards both in her
homeland and internationally. After moving to Sweden, she joined the theater
group “Sutra” and appeared as an extra in films about Wallander, as well as in
a music video for the band “Raw.” She later devoted herself to painting as a
self-taught artist. Her artistic expression is built on personal and symbolic
motifs, through works of strong emotion and vivid colors. She held her first
solo exhibition in 2021 in Belgrade, and since then has participated in
numerous solo, humanitarian, and group exhibitions in Serbia and abroad. Her
paintings are part of private collections worldwide. She is a human rights
advocate, humanitarian, and supporter of peace in the world. She lives and
creates in Sweden.
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