detail from: KRK Art dizajn

A Talk on the Life and Work of Katarina Kostić

A Testimony to the Power of Words in the Diaspora

By Ilija Šaula

Dear friends, esteemed guests, dear lovers of literature,

Tonight, we have gathered to celebrate the creative journey and new works of an exceptional individual — Katarina Kostić, a writer, journalist, and publicist who has, for decades, enriched the cultural life of the Serbian diaspora in Canada and beyond.

Born in Šabac, educated in Belgrade, and later shaped by the experiences of Paris and Toronto, Katarina Kostić has, through her life and work, become a bridge between different cultures and languages. Her poems and short stories have been translated into numerous world languages — from English and French to Russian, Arabic, and Romanian. This cosmopolitan spirit, at the same time deeply rooted in Serbian tradition, makes her literary voice both distinctive and invaluable.

Dear Katarina, the books we are presenting today are not merely artistic achievements; they are a testimony to the power of words in the diaspora. Through your work, you have shown that Serbian culture and literature live and flourish beyond the borders of the homeland. You are one of the founders and the long-standing president of the Serbian-Canadian Writers’ Association Desanka Maksimović in Toronto, through which you have brought together and encouraged writers, poets, and artists to jointly build a cultural space far from their native land.

Your engagement is not limited to poetry and prose. As a journalist and publicist, you write for numerous newspapers and magazines in Serbia and Canada, leaving a lasting mark on the media landscape. Your literary criticism and chronicles from the diaspora testify that you have always been an alert chronicler of your time, as well as a voice that connects people through culture.

Your social and cultural activities, dear Katarina, reflect your deep belief in togetherness. Through your tireless work, you have continuously united artists within the Serbian community through culture and literature, proving that art is the strongest foundation of identity and the most beautiful way to preserve the bond with one’s homeland.

Therefore, tonight, as we speak about your new books, we are in fact speaking about a life devoted to words, culture, and community. We are speaking about a woman who has shown through her work that the diaspora is not merely a geographical distance, but also a spiritual closeness — and that the Serbian word can resonate powerfully in Toronto, in Belgrade, and throughout the world.

Dear Katarina, thank you for proving through your life and work that culture knows no borders. Your books are our shared pride, and your example is a guiding light for all who believe in the power of the written word.

Ilija Šaula
Belgrade, December 8, 2025
UKS, Francuska 7

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