【Special Exhibition】Pippi Longstocking and the World of Astrid Lindgren Jul. 6, 2019 (Sat) ~ Aug. 25, 2019(Sun)

イングリッド・ヴァン・ニイマン　《『長くつ下のピッピ』出版社用ポスター原画》1940年代後半　

アストリッド・リンドグレーン社(ｽｳｪｰﾃﾞﾝ)所蔵　

Illustration Ingrid Vang Nyman ©The Astrid Lindgren Company. Courtesy of The Astrid Lindgren Company

This exhibition introduces the literature and the life of Astrid Lindgren, whose archives were added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register in 2005. Her works are a fine representation of Swedish culture for featuring swedish way of living, child bearing and coexistence with the nature. This exhibition will be held in commemoration of Japan and Sweden's 150 years of diplomatic relations and showcases valuable object such as original drawings of "Pippi Longstocking".

Astrid Lindrgren, a Children’s Book Author and the Pride of Sweden

アストリッド・リンドグレーン肖像 ©The Astrid Lindgren Company / Jacob Forsell/TT

For 94 years of her life, Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002) produced numerous children’s stories and was called “the queen of children’s books”. Her works were translated into more than 100 languages and printed in more than one hundred sixty million copies. Her representative work, “Pippi Longstocking” was an impromptu bedtime story created in 1941 for her daughter Carline when she was sick. The story became a best seller and was loved by people around the world.

Ms. Lindgren was born at a farm in the Småland region of Sweden. Her life spent in nature was the origin of her imagination and creativity. At the age of 18, she became a single mother. Her life, which contained a lot of ups and downs, was sympathetic for women in modern society. It must be the reason why she has many followers even today.

Lindgren was also an opinion leader in protecting children’s human rights. Her speech, “Never Violence!” at a German Booksellers' Peace Awards ceremony in 1978, was highly controversial. Sweden decided to criminalize both physical and mental abuse in children in 1978, the year after Lindgren delivered the speech. Undoubtedly, she had played an important role in establishing the law.

 

1. Pippi Longstocking

桜井誠　《『長くつ下のピッピ』表紙原画》1964年　黒姫童話館所蔵

Translated to 70 languages and having sold 66 million copies, “Pippi Longstocking” enjoys long lasting, worldwide popularity. The first chapter of this exhibition reveals some hidden facts of Pippi’s production, the s１tory’s true virtue and the reason for its popularity.

2. Astrid Lindgren

Author Astrid Lindgren spent her childhood in the Smoland region of Sweden. Her life in nature gave her great inspiration and creativity which were the source of her storytelling.

3. The Heroes and Heroines of Lindgren’s Stories

イロン・ヴィークランド《『やかまし村のクリスマス』挿絵原画》　

1961年　アストリッド・リンドグレーン社(スウェーデン)所蔵　

Illustration Ilon Wikland  ©Ilon Wikland. Courtesy of The Astrid Lindgren Company

Staged in the home village of Lindgren’s father, “The Children of Noisy Village” describes a lot of her childhood experiences. “Lotta on Troublemaker Street” has a nostalgic story about a modern family.

This chapter introduces the world of Lindgren through a variety of original pictures.

Tributes to Lindgren’s Works

リサ・ラーソン《馬を持ち上げるピッピ》2018年　アストリッド・リンドグレーン社(ｽｳｪｰﾃﾞﾝ)所蔵　＊実際の展示作品と異なる場合があます。

©Lisa Larson. Made by Keramikstudion Sweden. Courtesy of The Astrid Lindgren Company

This part of the exhibition introduces artwork created by artists under the inspiration of Lindgren’s children’s stories. It includes Pippi’s ceramic wear produced by Lisa Larson, which was especially made for this exhibition.