Vahur Afanasjev


Vahur Afanasjev is an Estonian writer.

Biography

Afanasjev graduated from the University of Tartu in 2002, majoring in economic policy. He has been a member of a literary group called Noorte Autorite Koondis since 1998, and a member of the Estonian Writers' Union since 2006.
He has worked as a journalist, media analyst, copywriter, creative director, and PR officer.
From 2005 to 2010, Afanasjev lived in Brussels, Belgium.

Writing

Afanasjev began his writing career with poems and lyrics in 1995. In 1997-98, he published three poetry collections on the internet. His first poems were published in the Estonian literary magazine Vikerkaar in 1998. He has published poetry books, short stories, and novels. His works have been published in several collections of various authors in English, Finnish, Russian, Romanian, Dutch, and Hungarian.

Works

Poetry:
Novels:
Other Prose
Non-fiction:
Honorary Citizen of Peipsiääre parish, with a badge of honor

Style

His style is described as socially critical magic realism flavoured with obscurities. His characters include parasite worms, murderers, corrupted journalists, robots, and lonely gay men. "...this year saw the publication of his short novel Cosmos. This is a peculiar tale that could be characterised as Brokeback Mountain meets Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."

Music

In addition to his writing, Afanasjev makes electronic music, punk-like electric guitar rock, blues and country, and experimental noisepop.
A CD of tra_art was published with Vahur Afanasjev's book Kanepi Kirik. Two of his recordings were on a CD of singing writers.
He has also written lyrics for Orelipoiss, Skriimsilm, and Päris Anny.

Film

Afanasjev has made experimental short films since 2006, and has used photos and Microsoft PowerPoint in film production. In June 2008, he presented his autobiographical documentary film Where Dreams End and was threatened with a court case concerning it. The film had its official premiere at the Eclectica festival. In April 2009, Afanasjev finished production of a documentary film called Rong Way about the complicated train travel between Estonia and Western Europe.