ROMA WOMEN IN LONDON SHARE THEIR VIEW

Posted by Charlotte on February 10, 2010

Private View: 10th February 2009, 6pm – 9pm
Hours: 11th – 19th February 2009, 12pm – 6pm

Art Pavilion
Mile End Park
London, E3 4QY
Five min from Mile End Tube

A new exhibition opens in Mile End, east London today called Roma London, it is part of the Different Culture Photo’s project. The exhibition is a collaboration of young Roma women living in London and photographer Manuela Zanotti and Jacob Garber of the Children’s Society.

The young women document a crucial moment in their lives as they undergo many complex transitions: from girlhood into womanhood, from Eastern European segregation to attempted British multiculturalism and from passive outsiders to active participants in society.

The Roma young women are leading participants of the group, rather than subjects of a traditional photojournalism project. Not only are the Roma participants the main project photographers, they and their families define the terms of their representation in terms of both their personal and cultural priorities.

The exhibition aims to break away from the romanticized view of Roma women as free living travellers, or helpless victims living in poverty.

Roma people originated from India around 1000 years ago and are currently Europe’s largest ethnic minority.  Widespread ignorance about Roma culture is one factor that severely limits the economic and educational opportunities of Roma people, especially young Roma women.  A lack of culturally appropriate services mean that over two thirds of Roma in the UK have left school by the time they reach 14 (DCSF, 2009).  Another indicator of their disadvantage is that across Europe, Roma life expectancy is 10 years less than the average (UNHCR, 1993).

Let us know if you go, we’d love to hear your opinion of the work on display!

For more info about the exhibition contact:

Manuela Zanotti: photo@manuelazanotti.com
07903 557 926

Jacob Garber: jacob.garber@childrenssociety.org.uk
020 7474 7222

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