Alexander Pushkin-like robot to recite poems to Muscovites

In June, Muscovites will have the opportunity to get acquainted with a Pushkin-like robot. An android capable of reciting some 600 poems by Alexander Pushkin will be brought from VDNKh’s Robot Station to Sokolniki Park, which will host the Moscow Contemporary Russian Literature Festival on 11–12 June. The festival will also arrange for events marking Alexander Pushkin birthday, which is celebrated on 6 June.

Pushkin is a human-like robot with skin made of silicon, which has allowed specialists to make a Pushkin lookalike. The robot wears a tailcoat, a white shirt and a top hat while its black curls and whiskers make it look even more similar to the poet.

According to Sokolniki Park’s press service, park visitors will be able to get acquainted with the robot and ask it to recite poems of their choice next to the Rotonda Bandstand, which is located close to the main entrance to the park, on 11–12 June from 12 pm until 6 pm. A stand with a tablet computer next to the robot will let members of the public choose their favourite poems from a list and ask the Pushkin android to recite them. 

Included on the list are not only short poems but also narrative poems like “Ruslan and Ludmila” or the novel in verse “Eugene Onegin.” You can listen to the entire poem or choose your favourite excerpt, for example, Tatyana’s letter to Onegin.  

The robot stands motionlessly when it recites poems, but its facial expressions are very much similar to human ones as it can smile and move its lips and eyebrows.  

“Pushkin is a human-like robot,” the Robot Station press service said. “It has 16 facial muscles, which are moved by special motors, so the robot can allow itself to be emotional, open its mouth and recite poems. The motors are covered with the silicon skin. The developers have used special soft silicon so that it can be controlled by the motors and convey expressions similar to those of humans.”

The robot’s voice will not be artificial and monotone – rather it will be expressive, with a professional actor providing the voice.

When the festival is over, the robot will be brought back to the Robot Station at VDNKh’s Pavilion No. 2. The pavilion is home to 25 robots performing different functions.

Now in its third year, the festival will be held as usual at the Rotonda Bandstand in Sokolniki Park. Russian authors, journalists, cultural figures, publishers and booklovers are invited to take part in the event. The festival will feature meetings with poets and popular Russian authors, as well as newly-released books. The detailed event guide will be posted on the Sokolniki Park website next week.