Traum im Frühling – kultur- og likestillingsministerens tale ved åpning av bokmessen i Leipzig

*Sjekkes mot fremføring

Sehr geehrte Frau Staatsministerin Claudia Roth

Sehr geehrte Frau Staatsministerin Barbara Klepsch

Sehr geehrter Herr Oberbürgermeister Burkhard Jung

Werter Alhierd Bacharevič

Werte Sieglinde Geisel

Alle Freundinnen und Freunde der Literatur, des Lesens und des Buches!

Ladies and gentlemen, friends of literature!

 

Fifteen days ago, a remarkable event took place in Oslo.

One of the most famous and iconic Norwegian paintings, White-Bear-King-Valemon, became available to the public.

The painting, from 1912, depicts a well-known scene from a Norwegian fairytale: a majestic polar bear walking in a dark, dim forest.

His true identity is hidden from us; the bear is actually a prince under a spell!

But what really draws our attention, is the princess, sitting upright on the back of the bear.

She is calm and brave.

When all hope seems lost, and the prince cannot be saved, the princess shows extraordinary courage in times of great misfortune.

She manages to save the prince, and they probably lived happily ever after.

*

For centuries, Norwegian artists and writers have been heavily influenced by German culture and philosophy.

It was the Grimm brothers who inspired Norwegians to collect and publish Norwegian fairy tales!

Many Norwegian authors have been inspired by these folk and fairy tales – including Henrik Ibsen, Knut Hamsun and Sigrid Undset, among others.

*

Jon Fosse won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2023, as many of you will remember.

He is one of our most prolific contemporary writers.

Fosse explores themes of human existence, relationships, and the unsayable.

His works have been translated into more than fifty languages, highlighting his global influence and appeal.

Speaking of Traum im Frühling:

If you visit Oslo this spring, you can watch Fosse’s play Traum im Herbst at the National Theatre.

In this play, Fosse asks us a truly existential question:

Can we manage to change course, can we manage to make amends with ourselves and our loved ones before it is too late?

Talking of time, the Norwegian author Maja Lunde explores what could happen if we have endless time at our disposal.

What if time merely stops right now? What if no one dies? What if no one is born? Will we desperately long for our time to run out?

Her novel, Für Immer, has been warmly received by readers all over Germany.

*

German readers seem very fond of Norwegian literature.

I think it has a lot to do with the fact that we share a common cultural ground, common values, and we live in the same corner of the world.

Germany is our most important partner in Europe.

And through literature, we can relate to each other and continue to weave our strong bonds.

*

My generation grew up witnessing the world opening up and walls being torn down.

Every year, many Norwegian schoolchildren visit Berlin and The Stasi Museum, to learn about the past.

One image displayed in the museum, taken in sunny Pankow, East Berlin, in 1987, is hard to forget.

It shows a man with a tattoo, which reads:

Nur wenn ich träume bin ich frei.

Only when I dream am I free.

Perhaps it was the only way he could express his Traum im Frühling.

We may never know.

*

I guess every generation has its Traum im Frühling.

In Norway, spring is the season when the light returns.

But in our time, on the world stage, this spring feels like the season of darkness.

The free world is embarking on a very challenging journey.

Our Ukrainian friends have demonstrated immense courage and profound wisdom.

We must continue our joint support.

*

At the end of this opening ceremony, we will hear Morning Mood, composed by the renowned Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, for Henrik Ibsen’s famous play, Peer Gynt.

Grieg, who studied here in Leipzig, captured the essence of dawn in his music.

If you listen carefully, you can almost hear the birds singing at daybreak, a true sign of spring and hope.

As we speak, thousands of migrant birds are returning from Germany to the shores of Norway.

It is truly fascinating to watch.

They usually fly together.

The flock protects them from predators, conserves energy, maintains social bonds, and helps them find food more efficiently.

Birds remind us of the importance of staying together in challenging times.

*

Dear friends of literature.

It is a true honour to be chosen as your Guest of Honour here at Leipzig Buchmesse.

We are excited to share with you the rich tapestry of Norwegian literature.

I wish you all inspiring days, full of literature and many good conversations.

Vielen Dank.

***