Maik Yohansen — poet, prose writer, translator, screenwriter, journalist, and literary scholar.

Early Years
Maik (Mykhailo Hervasiiovych) Yohansen was born on October 28, 1895, in Kharkiv into the family of a German language teacher. His father came from Latvia, and some sources point to Swedish or Norwegian roots. Maik received a classical education at a Russian gymnasium and in 1917 graduated from the Faculty of History and Philology at Kharkiv University. He knew Ancient Greek, Latin, English, German, Italian, Spanish, French, as well as Scandinavian and Slavic languages. His encyclopedic knowledge also included exact sciences, sports, hunting, chess, cycling, and photography.

Under the influence of the tragic events of the Russian intervention in Ukraine, particularly the bloody events in Kharkiv, Yohansen sharply changed his worldview and adopted Marxist positions. At the same time, he began writing in Ukrainian, although he had previously written in Russian.
Literary Beginnings
In 1921, Maik emerged as a Ukrainian poet with publications in the journals Paths of Art and the collections October, Alarm, and Stack. That same year, his first poetry book D’Hori was published. He became close with Vasyl Ellan, Mykola Khvylovyi, Pavlo Tychyna, Volodymyr Sosiura, and other Kharkiv writers.

In 1923, Yohansen became one of the founders of the organization of Ukrainian proletarian writers “Hart.” Later, he led the “Techno-Artistic Group A,” which united writers who had left VAPLITE. On his initiative, the non-aligned journal-almanac Literary Fair appeared, followed later by the Universal Journal.

His work was distinguished by vivid imagery, philosophical depth, and a subtle sense of language. He worked across genres — poetry, prose, and literary essays. One of his most famous books is The Journey of the Learned Doctor Leonardo to Slobozhanska Switzerland (1928), combining an adventure novel with a philosophical treatise.

His translations include works by Friedrich Schiller, William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Rudyard Kipling, H. G. Wells, Valentin Kataev, and others.
Odesa and the Cinema Avant-Garde
In 1927–1928, Yohansen stayed in Odesa, which at that time was a major center of Ukrainian cinema and literary avant-garde. He worked at the Odesa Film Factory of VUFKU, where he wrote screenplays, worked on editing, and collaborated with leading directors and poets. Together with Yurii Tiutiunnyk, he created the screenplay for the film Zvenyhora, later reworked by Oleksandr Dovzhenko.

Odessa became a creative hub for Ukrainian avant-garde artists. Here, Maik worked alongside Oleksa Vlyzko, Mykhail Semenko, Leonid Chernov (Maloshiichenko), and Geo Shkurupii. In the mid-1920s, on the Black Sea coast, they exchanged ideas, held literary readings, and experimented with poetics and cinema. Maik not only wrote poetry and prose but also actively engaged in translation, essays, theater productions, and reportage. It was here that his ability to combine literature and cinema took shape, and Odesa became a symbol of creative freedom and avant-garde exploration.
Repression and Death
In the early 1930s, Soviet repressions intensified. Yohansen, who opposed ideological control over literature, fell under suspicion as a “nationalist element.” On August 18, 1937, he was arrested. On October 24, he was charged with participation in an anti-Soviet organization and planning terrorist acts.

On October 26, Maik Yohansen was sentenced to execution with confiscation of property. On October 27, 1937, he was executed in Kyiv; he was 41 years old.

He was rehabilitated in 1958.
Legacy
Maik Yohansen left a significant literary legacy that became an important part of Ukrainian culture. His works include poetry, prose, essays, and literary criticism. His life and творчість symbolize the resilience of the Ukrainian spirit during times of repression, and his name was restored in history after Ukraine gained independence.

In the city of Odessa, Oleksandra Nevskogo 5th Lane was renamed Maik Yohansen Lane.