2nd October, 7pm at the Museum am Rothenbaum
World Cultures and Arts
In September 2025, the island nation will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its independence. On this occasion, MARKK seeks to trace the paths of a shared history. What impulses and expectations arise from the celebrations, and to what extent are the country’s cultural and artistic diversity, as well as its colonial entanglements with the German Empire, reflected in MARKK’s collections? Points of departure for these questions can be found in the exhibition “Pippi’s Papa and a Really True Story from the Pacific” as well as in the approaches of a provenance research project on the Hamburg South Seas Expedition (1908–1910). They provide the background for a conversation between Dr. Jeanette Kokott, Curator of the Oceania Department, and Dr. Jasmin Günther, provenance researcher on the colonial context, with guests from Papua New Guinea:
Gazellah Bruder is an internationally renowned artist from Papua New Guinea who is currently participating as an artist-in-residence at the LIA Leipzig International Art Programme. In her artistic work, which includes painting and printmaking among other media, she addresses a wide range of socio-political issues. Environmental concerns, domestic violence, and the unequal treatment of women recur as central themes. Her stay in Leipzig is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office.
Nakni Nelly works at the Morobe Provincial Administration in Lae. From late September to early October, he will visit MARKK as part of the provenance research project on the Hamburg South Seas Expedition to review holdings from the Siassi Islands and to prepare a research stay. Research on the Siassi Islands aims to critically examine the circumstances of acquisition and to incorporate the perspectives of local knowledge holders. Nakni Nelly himself has family ties to Malai Island and was able to accompany the delegation from the Siassi Islands to the Festival of Pacific Arts in Hawai‘i in June 2024.
On the occasion of Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Anniversary, MARKK is collaborating with WanBel, a digital platform that will continue to accompany the celebrations over the coming months and connect collections internationally. With a growing network that already includes over 40 international museums in 14 countries, WanBel highlights the country’s culture and presents the art and collections of Papua New Guinea through diverse exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural exchange. As part of this collaboration, MARKK will also showcase the art of Papua New Guinea in various activities. The event on October 2 contributes to this initiative.
The provenance research project on the Hamburg South Seas Expedition is funded by the German Lost Art Foundation and supported by the Hamburg Scientific Foundation.
Admission free | The event will be held in English.
