Exhibition: Roma Heroes of Resistance – Emanuel Barica + live performance
Exhibitions, 31 July - 1 August 2024; Venue: Auditorium Maximum of Jagiellonian University, Kraków
Emanuel Baricas portraits present survivors of the Roma and Sinti Holocaust, who did not let the abuse they suffered define them as victims, but as warriors who stood up and confronted everyday injustice and the horrific cruelty of the Nazi regime. The persecution of Roma – and Roma history in general – is often marginalized and forgotten, lacking the recognition it deserves. However, “we need to also tell these stories of resistance and struggle, of heroes and heroines, and how the common compassion that people have for one another can help fight the worst forms of oppression. A focus on rescue, on mutual support amongst Romani and Sinti who were deported, who were in ghettos, camps and who survived pogroms and mass murder, can teach all of us to emulate the courage of those who stood up against dehumanization and genocide” (Ethel Brooks) These portraits were created during ERIAC’s Re-thinking Roma Resistance project, funded by Foundation EVZ. Focusing on Roma agency, the research uncovered various forms of resistance and survival strategies that Roma engaged in throughout history, with a special focus on enduring and resisting the horrors of World War II. The custom-made illustrations were created by virtuoso artist Emanuel Barica, who himself is of Roma origin. These life stories of 23 Roma heroes not only stand as testimony to a painful past but point us to lessons that we can learn from those whose humanity remained strong even as fascism and barbarity swept through Europe.
The exhibition is presented in cooperation with the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture.
Short Biography
Barica, Emanuel
Emanuel Barica (1994, Botoșani) is a Romanian Roma self-thought artist who lives and works in Berlin. In his artistic practice, he likes to explore new narratives and visual storytelling techniques that push the boundaries of traditional art forms. Barica has a background of working as a street artist and experimenting with blurring the line between visual arts and live performance. A natural talent, Barica developed the method of “drawing by intuition”, and often uses the sound of music in a performative way. Barica’s works are not directly political but are characterized by a political stance. He sees himself as an artistic activist and is committed to overcoming the discrimination of the Roma and Sinti and the recognition of their exclusion in the past and present. The themes of his works therefore repeatedly include persecution and resistance. The artist is affiliated with institutions such as ERIAC, Gallery Kai Dikhas, Amaro Drom e.V., and Amaro Foro e.V. His latest works include the ‘Romani Gallery’, portraits of the most prominent figures of the Roma movement in the frame of the Barvalo exhibition (May 10-September 4, 2023) at the Muceum (Museum of Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean) in Marseille. Recently he qualified 4th in Romanians Got Talent TV show and continues to inspire and challenge through his artistic work and community involvement.
31 July 2024 - Exhibition: Roma Heroes of Resistance + live performance at the conference opening, Krakow
Copyright: Zentralrat Deutscher Sinti und Roma / Łukasz Gągulski
Copyright: Zentralrat Deutscher Sinti und Roma / Jarosław Praszkiewicz
Programm 2024
Commemoration 2024
2 August 2024 – European Holocaust Memorial Day for Roma and Sinti
O Lungo Drom (Der lange Weg) ~ ein Oratorium über Sinti und Roma ~
1 August 2024 – Krakow Philharmonic Hall
International Conference
“My testimony is for young people”
Passing on Memory for the Future
of Holocaust Remembrance and Education
31st of July – 1st of August 2024
Opening event
31 July 2024 – Auditorium Maximum of Jagiellonian University, Kraków
Exhibition: Raymond Gurême – A path of memory and resistance
31 July – 1 August 2024 – Auditorium Maximum of Jagiellonian University, Kraków