The Trialogies is a unique creative experiment that was organized in 1982-1983 by artist and essayist Ilya Kabakov, art historian and sociologist Iosif Bakstein, and philologist and cultural critic Mikhail Epshtein. Over the course of the year, they met and wrote short essays on topics of their choice, then discussed them and supplemented each other's texts with comments. The topics for these improvisations spanned art, culture, society, and everyday life; often the subject of joint discussions was the realities of the Soviet era and important ideologues, from hockey, the bag or the poster to fate and epic. In addition to the materials of the improvisation sessions, the book includes a section written by M. Epstein, “Toward a History and Theory of Improvisation,” which describes other improvisational communities that emerged in Russia and the West from the 1980s to the present day - the Club of Essayists, Egyptian Nights, Writing as I Breathe, and Lost and Found. In this section, the author examines the genre features of improvisation as an existential event of thinking, the connection of creative and communicative components in it, and its correlation with folklore and essayism. The appendix includes M. Epstein's article “Ilya Kabakov as a Thinker”; at the end of the book there is a bibliography of works on the problems of the book, as well as a chronology of all improvisations in Russian and English, in which M. Epstein participated as a moderator and author. The edition is illustrated with facsimiles of I. Kabakov's texts and reproductions of his works related to the themes of the improvisations.
What Are the Objectives of the Award?
The primary goal of the Award is to support authors and promote Russian-language literature worldwide. We welcome all who write and read in Russian, regardless of citizenship or place of residence. We aim to foster a Russian-language culture free from political and imperial influences.
How Is the Award Process Conducted?
The Prize is awarded annually. The Jury holds a vote in which each member selects between one and three works. The author whose work receives the highest number of votes becomes the winner.
What Awards Are Provided?
The Prize winner receives a grant for the translation of their work into English, French, and German.
When Does the Submission Period for the Competition Start and End?
Submissions for the third season of the prize will open on July 15, 2026, and close on October 15, 2026.
When will the list of finalists and winners be announced?
On January 20, 2027, the Council of Experts will announce the shortlist. The Independent Jury will announce the winner on May 25, 2027.
What are the conditions for the nomination of a book for the award
Works published in 2025 are eligible for the third season of the competition. Eligible works (novels, novellas, short story and essay collections, documentary prose) may have been published either as standalone editions or in literary magazines. Nominations may be submitted by publishing houses and magazine editorial boards, as well as by the authors themselves or third parties (with the author's consent and written confirmation). Texts must be submitted for consideration in electronic format. The DAR Prize is open to all authors. Given the prize's main goals — promoting contemporary Russian-language literature outside of Russia — and the nature of the award itself (a translation grant), priority will be given to authors whose works have not previously been translated into English, French, or German.
