Ein ganz normaler Tag with Josephine Apraku, Eric Otieno Sumba, Sharonda Quainoo and Nadine Nzambisa Ngolo

Rirkrit Tiravanija: DAS GLÜCK IST NICHT IMMER LUSTIG

A collage: On the left is the title of an illustrated children's book showing children playing by a tree. On the right are two portraits of Josephine Apraku and Eric Otieno Sumba and two portrait illustrations by Sharonda Quainoo

Photo Josephine Apraku: Joanna Legid, photo Eric Otieno Sumba: L. Kolloge, photo Sharonda Quainoo: Philip Schmidt

To mark the occasion of the recently published children’s book Ein ganz normaler Tag, editor Josephine Apraku and author Eric Otieno Sumba will read two stories they wrote from the book and, together with illustrator Sharonda Quainoo, talk about how the book came about. The discussion will be moderated by Nadine Nzambisa Ngolo, Coordinator for Live Programme and Outreach at the Gropius Bau.

As part of the public programme accompanying the exhibition DAS GLÜCK IST NICHT IMMER LUSTIG by Rirkrit Tiravanija, the Gropius Bau invites you to a monthly series of Long Evenings. In addition to the book presentation, there will be a cooking show with Luiza Prado De O. Martins, a film screening by Rirkrit Tiravanija, a DJ set with Ayzon and a performance by Petra Hermanova taking place on the same evening.

Ein ganz normaler Tag combines the everyday and the marvellous: In eleven stories for children aged five and over funny, thought-provoking, heroic, mysterious, amazing and encouraging moments are told. Each story invites you to immerse yourselves in the lives of the protagonists and see the world from a different perspective. Eleven authors with different realities of life have written stories for this book that they would have liked to hear as a child, that they have experienced themselves and that they think we should hear.

Josephine Apraku is an African studies scholar, author, lecturer and trainer for intersectional racism-critical educational work. Aprakus’s texts have been published by EDITION F, Missy Magazine and Tagesspiegel, among others. Kluft und Liebe (Eden Books, 2022) examines oppression in romantic relationships; Mein Workbook zu Rassismus and the interactive card set Lasst uns über Rassismus reden! (Familiar Faces, 2023) invite people to engage in self-reflection critical of racism. Most recently published were Aprakus’s children’s books Tschüss Uroma (bli bla blub, 2023) and Ein ganz normaler Tag (Carlsen, 2024). In 2024, Mein Workbook zu Rassismus was honoured by the Stiftung Buchkunst as one of the most beautiful German books.

Eric Otieno Sumba is a sociologist, political scientist and freelance author. He works on the intersections of social justice, post-colonial politics, the global “order” and contemporary art and culture, writing on these and related topics for newspapers, magazines and online publications.

Sharonda Quainoo was born in Berlin and has Ghanaian roots. In her artistic work, she deals with the representation and identity of black people, West African mysticism, sensuality and the ornamental. In her exploration of her own self, she embarks on a search for clues and formulates delicate collages, expressive drawings and often metaphorical paintings in her technically diverse visual language.

During the event, photographs and video recordings may be made in which you may be recognisable. By attending, you consent to these recordings being used to communicate the event or exhibition.