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WHAT DO THEY SAY ABOUT THE ROMA PAVILION
Viktor Misiano, art critic, curator:
“I think this pavilion is strange and important – from many points of view even crucial to the history of the Venice Biennale… it questions the concept of national representation at the Biennale.” More
Flash Art, Aaron Multon:
“The Roma are probably the only thing Europe has that is truly European… (The Roma Pavilion) is probably the most sincere survey of art from a community that properly questions our ideas of what a nation, nationhood or national representation actually is or could be.
Die Welt:
“Das ist so ziemlich das Gegenteil, dessen, was man aus Deutschland hört. Zigeuner - das sei ein diskriminierender Fremdbegriff, meint der Zentralrat der Sinti und Roma. Die jungen Künstler in Venedig sehen das anders. Sie benutzen das Wort als einen positiven Kampfbegriff mit dem Verlangen nach Emanzipation und Anrecht auf ein Stück Normalität und Respekt.”
Jan Figel, Member of the European Commission:
”It is a natural ambition of the Roma intellectuals to establish a Roma Pavilion, where the art of Roma can enter the international arena for the first time in history.”
Robert Storr, Director, 52nd Venice Biennale:
“They (Roma) can be from India, from Central Africa, from the edges of Europe, but they have been there for many years and that is why it is important to present them at the Biennale, as an acknowledgement of their existence.”
Michael Toss, Director, Allianz Kulturstiftung:
“The Roma Pavilion, the first transnational pavilion in the Biennial’s history, is a genuine European pavilion highlighting the artificiality of national borders and the fiction of ”otherness” in Europe today.”
Alexander Vladychenko, Director General, Council of Europe, Directorate General III – Social Cohesion
“The intention to exhibit works of art by Roma at the prestigious Venice Biennale is a veritable landmark which the Council of Europe welcomes without reserve.”
Fogarasi Andràs, 52nd Biennale, Hungarian Pavilion
“Very good, really interesting work. Congratulations!”
Visitors of the Pavilion, in the Book of Visitors:
“The Roma Pavilion is one of my favourites! Re-establishing the meaning of a ’national Pavilion’ in Venice – although it is careful also not to conform to the tradition of settled nationalities’ Pavilions. Well done.”
“Wonderful, that you made this! It’s very important in our EU of today. A lot of energy further on!”
“I see the power of living and life – walk strong and full of love.”
“Very important exhibition, the most interesting one in the Biennale. Thank you!”
“Strong work. Breaking concepts and boundaries. Following the spirit of the Biennale to stop and make you think, feel and reflect. Thank you and keep on moving!”
“L’arte Rom: una gradita sorpresa.”“Maybe I was wrong in the way I thought sometimes.”
More entries from the visitors in the Pavilion Diary.
