In collaboration with the Romanian Institute of Culture and Humanistic Research in Venice Matei Visniec has always lived between two worlds: poetry and theatre, East and West, Romania and France, the Romanian and French language, a passion for literature and a passion for journalism. Born in the north of Romania, Matei Visniec studied philosophy in Bucharest and established himself amongst the 80s generation, a generation of poets which opposed communism through a linguistic revolution, through the use of irony, humour, lucidity and metaphors. Matei Visniec has lived in Paris since 1987 and is a French-speaking playwright, with his plays being shown in more than 30 countries, including Italy. Two of his pieces have been published in Italian by publishers Titivillus in Pisa. His poems are also included in a number of anthologies put together by Marco Cugno. The poet will be presented and accompanied by Professor Roberto Merlo, lecturer at Turin University. Roberto Merlo has studied Romanian in both Italy and Romania, and for years has divided his time between the two countries where he has studied, lived and worked as a teacher, unable to decide which of the two he likes best. He currently teaches Romanian at Turin University, but goes to Romania whenever he gets the opportunity. Coordinator: Dr. Monica Zoita.