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| Namyangju Mayor Cho Kwang-han, left, picture book artist Baek Hee-na, second from left, and Swedish ambassador to Korea Jakob Hallgren, right, participate in the SwedenTalk program during the opening ceremony of the "Congrats, Pippi! & Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA)" exhibition at the Jeong Yak-yong Library in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, March 26. Courtesy of Namyangju City |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
This year marks the 75th anniversary of Astrid Lindgren's red-haired character Pippi Longstocking. To celebrate the occasion, an exhibition titled "Congrats, Pippi! & Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award" (ALMA) is being held at the Jeong Yak-yong Library in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.
The exhibit, co-organized by the Embassy of Sweden in Korea and Namyangju City through Sept. 30, brings the story behind the creation of Pippi Longstocking and Lindgren's message in her stories.
Lindgren (1907-2002) is one of the most beloved Swedish authors, known for her children's novels "Emil of Lonneberga" and "Karlsson-on-the-Roof" as well as the most famous "Pippi Longstocking."
The iconic Pippi, the self-proclaimed "strongest girl in the world," first appeared in the eponymous book published in 1945 amid World War II. The free-spirited and extraordinarily strong character was named by Lindgren's daughter Karin, who asked her mother to tell her a story while she was sick in bed.
Pippi is adored by children, and people of all ages consider her a role model and a symbol of independence and anti-authoritarianism to this day. The influence of her liberal and strong-willed extends far beyond the world of children's literature, according to the Swedish embassy.
Her stories have been translated into over 80 languages, including Korean. The book series as well as a television adaptation from the 1970s are well-known and popular in Korea.
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| 'Congrats, Pippi! & Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award" exhibition at the Jeong Yak-yong Library in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Namyangju City |
Swedish Ambassador to Seoul Jakob Hallgren attended the opening SwedenTalk event, March 26, along with Namyangju City Mayor Cho Kwang-han and picture book artist Baek Hee-na, who is the ALMA's first Korean recipient. They discussed children's literature and rights and Baek's books.
Ambassador Hallgren talked about how the iconic character is an inspiration to all children.
"My children grew up with Astrid Lindgren's books and they loved Pippi. Pippi is fun because she breaks with conventional ideas about how children should behave ― and also, perhaps, makes fun of gender stereotypes in the process. It is hardly strange that Pippi eventually also became something of a role model in the women's movement," Hallgren said.
The exhibit features Pippi Longstocking books as well as other related character products and coloring paper for children to experience the world of Pippi created by Lindgren.
Also on view are past laureates of the ALMA, which Baek won in 2020. Hosted by the Swedish Arts Council, the annual award recognizes individuals or organizations for their contributions to children's and young adult literature since 2002.
Baek is known for her unique visual style using handmade figurines and backgrounds. Her major publications include "Cloud Bread," "Moon Sherbet," "The Bath Fairy" and "I Am a Dog."
"With exquisite feeling for materials, looks and gestures, Baek Hee-na's filmic picture books stage stories about solitude and solidarity. In her evocative miniature worlds, cloud bread and sorbet moons, animals, bath fairies and people converge. Her work is a doorway to the marvelous: sensuous, dizzying and sharp," the ALMA jury said of Baek in a statement.
