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October, 2007
Compared to previous months, public interest in Paradise Lost-The First Roma Pavilion increased in October. The affluence of visitors in this month could be compared to that of the first weeks after the opening of the exhibition in June.
While there were in average 150-200 visitors daily, the record visit was on Sunday October 14: 285 guests visited the Pavilion on that single day. That sets the new record of all time, the previous one being from September (215 visitors).
The rising public interest in October can be attributed to the increased attention in Roma issues in general (due to the events in Italy), as well as to several connecting events (such as the concert by Damian Draghici on October 19) and to the beginning of the autumn semester at Venice universities.
Apart from usual visitors - tourists, artists and art enthusiasts from around the world - this autumn brought to the Pavilion representatives of civil society organizations, teachers and educators. The number of visiting students significantly increased in October - some of them coming for purely art purposes, many eager to see Gypsies in a “different way”, and some writing articles about the pavilion in students and community media outlets.
On Monday, October 15, the Pavilion hosted over 40 representatives of academia, civil society and government who took part in the seminar Embracing the future: Identity, culture and artistic expression in education of Roma children organized together with the Roma Education Fund.
Below are some of the October entries in the book of visitors:
“In this exhibition I experienced that art has got a very important and intensive message to tell to the world.”
“I try now seeing with the eyes of Gabi Jimenez. These eyes!”
“Veramente interessante. Finalmente si vedono i Rom in forma diversa! Bello!”
“Very good display of contemporary work in a well-understood cultural context.”
“Superb, exciting, inspiring show – my favorite of the Biennale!”
“What a breath of fresh air. Thank you for letting me visit your world!”
“An enjoyable exhibition. Thank you Damian Le Bas for putting New Zealand on the map!”
“I will take away your plight and respond in my own way for you…”
“Fabulous show, please come back next Biennale!”
“Ho capito alla fine il film, è vero, è decisamente preoccupante e pericoloso. Splendida la storia attraverso i quadri di cucito!”
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