Pippi’s Papa
and a Totally True Story from the Pacific
The stories about Pippi Longstocking and her father Efraim, who rules as king over a Pacific island, figure among the most popular works of European children’s literature. But did a Swedish “South Sea king” truly exist? The biography of the Swede Carl Pettersson (1875 – 1937) shows astonishing parallels to the tales in the Pippi books. Based on the life circumstances of Pettersson, his Pacific wife Singdo and their children, the exhibition tells the story of German colonialism in the Pacific in a playful and interactive manner for children and families. It also aims to inspire reflection on how we should deal with colonial world views in classical children‘s books today.
Supported by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, the Hubertus Wald Foundation, the ZEIT Bucerius Foundation, the Hapag-Lloyd Foundation and the Claussen-Simon Foundation.
Funded by
Cultural Partner
Opening program
Thursday, september 5, 2024 at 6 pm
Speakers
Prof. Dr. Barbara Plankensteiner
Director
Melanie Schlotzhauer
Senator Arbeit, Gesundheit, Soziales, Familie und Integration der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg
Dr. Jeanette Kokott und Dr. Johanna Wild
Curators of the exhibition
Dr. Erna Lilje
Curator at the Wereldmuseum in the Netherlands, discusses the tradition of Malagan in New Ireland with
Adam Hunt Kaminiel
Expert and carver, Madina, Papua New Guinea
Dr. Susanne Küchler
Professor Anthropology Department, University College London
Rebekka Endler
author, speaks with the descendants about family stories connected to Carl Pettersson with:
Anthea Hoerler Fong, Kavieng, Papua New Guinea,
Camilla Eleby, Mankarbo, Sweden
Presentation of the Junior Advisory Board by Rilando June Lamadjido, Kuratorin für Vermittlung | Curator for mediation
