Roma Congress Art Exhibition
27th September – 3rd October 2021
This first exhibition after completion of our new build was a truly international exhibition showing art from Romani across Europe. Work from London Roma artists such as Dan Turner and Robert Czibi was included, alongside that of high profile artists such as Delaine Le Bas, who has shown in the Venice Biennale, and Ceija Stojka (1933-2013), a painter, activist, musical and survivor of three concentration camps.
In 2021 sees celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the groundbreaking 1st World Romany Congress which took place in London in 1971. It has been a milestone of the International Romany Movement. Arts and Culture have been a strong inspiration for the political movement of Sinti and Roma and continue to play an essential role as a form of civic expression as well as a strategy of emancipation and cultural resistance.
The exhibition was curated by Beverley Carpenter (Oblique Arts, UK) and Mortiz Pankok (Stiftung Kai Dikhas). The selection includes sculptures, paintings, drawings and photography from Damian Le Bas, Imrich Tomáš, Gérard Gartner and other artists who have produced iconic works.
The show included a well attended opening event and a round table closing event that explored Roma Art and Activism. This is particularly relevant currently with the proposed Police Bill that disproportionately affects the GRT community.
The exhibition tours to Germany to the gallery of the Foundation Kai Dikhas, Aufbau Haus am Moritzplatz PrinzenStraße 84.2 10969 Berlin. From October 22nd – November 27th.
Supported by Arts Council England.