Opening of the traveling exhibition on October 8 at 6:00 p.m. in the foyer of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Library: Günther Uecker
In August 1992, the “Sonnenblumenhaus” in Rostock-Lichtenhagen was set on fire after hundreds of people had spent several days shouting racist slogans and throwing stones and incendiary devices at the police and the building. For many, “Rostock-Lichtenhagen 1992” has since come to symbolize the extent of racism in reunified Germany.
In 2024, the State Agency for Political Education in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, in cooperation with the University of Rostock, published a graphic novel. It explores this event from various perspectives, depicted less through words than through illustrations. The illustrations and text are intended to appeal to young people and encourage them to engage with the subject.
Pedro Stoichita illustrated and developed this graphic novel. He is a visual artist who grew up in a multilingual environment comprising German, French, Spanish, and Romanian. Today, he lives and works in Berlin and Rome. In 2025, the State Library of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was able to acquire the preparatory materials and drawings for this graphic novel, thereby preserving them as a source of book history for the future.
In collaboration with the State Library and the State Agency for Political Education, Dr. Gudrun Heinrich and Sandra Eichstädt (University of Rostock) developed a traveling exhibition that presents the creation and concept behind the graphic novel.
To mark the opening of the traveling exhibition, the State Library is displaying original drawings by Pedro Stoichita. It is also presenting a selection of other graphic novels dedicated to exploring (contemporary) history.
Program for the opening event:
Welcome remarks by Dr. Ramona Dornbusch, Director of the State Office for Culture and Historic Preservation of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (LAKD)
Why do we collect preliminary drawings for a graphic novel? – Introduction by Matthias Wehry, Director of the State Library of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, LAKD
PANEL DISCUSSION: How do we teach contemporary history—the graphic novel “Lichtenhagen 1992” as an inclusive starting point for addressing racism
Input and discussion with
Dr. Gudrun Heinrich (University of Rostock), Sandra Eichstädt (University of Rostock), Pedro Stoichita (artist of the graphic novel)
Moderator: Jochen Schmidt, Director of the State Agency for Political Education.
Afterward, we invite you to join us for light refreshments.
The traveling exhibition is a collaboration between the University of Rostock, the State Center for Political Education of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Günther Uecker State Library of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and the State Office for Culture and Historic Preservation. It will be on display at the State Library through November 10, 2026, and can be visited there during regular opening hours.
