22/05/2021
Barbara Matejčić / Ana Opalić
Someday life will be beautiful
22/05/2021 - 20/06/2021
The audio-visual exhibition Someday life will be beautiful is a continuation of the project “When I grow up, I will be rich.” It stops in spaces where Roma children live and dream of their future. To achieve their aspirations in such difficult circumstances, they have to be overly persistent, hard-working, unwavering. Many of them won’t be able to do so like many other non-Roma children couldn’t if they were in their place. The inequality in which they grow up is a lack of real freedom for achieving their dreams.
Child poverty is an indicator of society. We are poor when our children are poor. In Croatia, children are among the poorest in the European Union, and Roma children are the poorest of the poor. They live in isolated, segregated settlements. Without running water and a bathroom. No sewerage. Some without electricity. Most without their own bed and learning space. Without an internet connection so they can follow online classes.
The project is part of The Equality Weeks which they organize by the Centre for Peace Studies, Roma youth organisations of Croatia and Arterarij.
The exhibition will be held in the premises and in partnership with Apoteka – Space for Contemporary Art.
The Equality Weeks which are further held in Zagreb, Slavonski Brod, Kutina, Čakovec, Rijeka, Beli Manastir and Vodnjan. Within one year, every fourth Roma is discriminated against and the #ProBudiJednakost (be/awake equality) social media campaign warn that discrimination is unacceptable and that it is up to all of us to tear down prejudices and
wake up equality.
Barbara Matejčić is an award-winning freelance journalist, non-fiction writer, researcher and audio documentarist focused on social affairs and human rights in the Balkan region. Her non-fiction book “Kako ste?” [“How are you?”], published by German Heinrich Böll Foundation, looks at the fate of so-called second-class citizens who are often invisible to most of society. She was selected for several European fellowships („Milena Jesenska“ Fellowship, German Foundation Heinrich Böll, Austrian ERSTE Foundation and German Robert Bosch Foundation). Barbara holds a degree in Croatian language and literature from the University of Zagreb.
Ana Opalić is a freelance photographer and video artist born in Dubrovnik, 1972. Graduated in Film and TV Cinematography at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb in 1997. She has been exhibiting photography and video art since 1991. Using autobiographical sequences, she deals with the questions of identity and belonging, the destiny of places and recording changes in the relentless flow of time.
This audio-visual exhibition was funded by the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020). The content of this audio-visual exhibition represents the views of the authors only and is their sole responsibility. The European Commission does not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.”
Apoteka is supported by:
Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, City of Vodnjan, Region of Istria, Tourist Board Vodnjan,
Medea wine-Salvela oil.
Impressum:
Authors of the exhibition: Ana Opalić and Barbara Matejčić
Photos: Ana Opalić
Text / Sound: Barbara Matejčić
Photo printing and equipment: Fini Print
Audio processing: Audio Store Transonica
THANKS: To the families who received us into their homes
Organizers of the exhibition in Vodnjan: Apoteka-space for contemporary art,
Center for Peace Studies, Roma youth organisations of Croatia and Arterarij.