Stora Stygga Vargen

Konsthall C's pedagogical project Konst i förskolan (Art in the Pre-school) is a collaboration with the Municipality of Farsta and involves all 5-year-olds at all municipal preschools in the area. Invited artists create workshops for staff and children, which in turn create an exhibition at Konsthall C. All artists and their 4-year-old friends are invited to the openings. The format involves around 1000 children per year, with about half participating as artists.

This year we invited Amsterdam-based artist Josefin Arnell to interpret the preschools’ ongoing theme: “Children's voices in a sustainable Farsta.” Josefin has decided to tackle one of the most pressing and complex issues of our time: crime and punishment. 

In relation to correctional systems and society's rules of justice, Josefin Arnell will utilize fairy tale logic and imagination as a tool to look at law and punishment through the eyes of a child. Fairy tales are magical worlds that are used to teach us about morality, often at a young age. Darker themes of fairy tales often contain punishment and sins.

Together with preschool teachers, art pedagoges and children, Josefin Arnell has deconstructed a modern version of the well known European fairy tale “The Little Red Riding Hood.” In this new modern fairy tale that is presented at Konsthall C everyone is the wolf.

Younger and younger people are increasingly involved in organized crime, both as victims and perpetrators. Before children become indoctrinated by current laws and punishment of grownups, what are their ideas about laws and punishment? How and when should we start talking to young children about crime? How do children gauge the concept of right and wrong? What can we learn from them? 

By allowing children to decide on the wolf's consequences and actions, Josefin opens up a discussion of children's understanding of justice and draws on their ideas on accountability to think about society at large. Through the discussion, we at Konsthall C hope to find compassion and ideas of justice that can be applied to children’s everyday interactions.

The Konst i förskolan project consists of professional development for teachers, workshops at all municipal preschools, and a big exhibition at Konsthall C. 

On Saturday November 23 we open up to show the works of over 500 children, and share with you their take on accountability and justice. Exhibition continues until December 15. During the exhibition period, art educators Malin and Birgitta will hold workshops for children and adults. Every Saturday and Sunday until December 15, there is the opportunity to step into the Wolf's shoes, and explore the theme of the exhibition and your own creativity.