
“ERCF, the
operational and fundraising body, exists to strengthen and widely promote the
role of Roma arts and culture in the enlarging Europe (and beyond) as a way to
fight against negative stereotypes and hostile attitudes towards Roma
communities. For a future world of artistic
and cultural diversity where Roma arts, culture, history and language are
equally valued and respected, and the power of artistic creation and education,
especially that of young people, is essential for changing negative stereotypes
towards people of Roma origin in the enlarging Europe and beyond.”
Veronka presented us the exhibition about KATITZI (Katitzi – A Literary Character Rooted in Reality)
Katarina Taikon was a Swedish writer with Roma origins. Her children book
has been inspired by the events and the experiences of her own story and
pursued the objective of drawing attention to an unknown reality. She reveals us a view of the world through
Katitzi’s eyes, a 9 years old Roma girl and the main character of the book.
Katitzi got extremely famous in Sweden and it is one of the first books talking
about Roma identity and addressed to Roma as well as non-Roma children. Indeed,
Katitzi has been one of the most significant characters of the Swedish
children’s literature. Hundreds of thousands of children and adults have read
the book in Sweden. The story, not long after its coming out, appeared as a comic
book as well as a magazine and a TV series.
“The book series 'Katitzi' has not only been a fascinating read for many
generations, but was also a significant example of the new type of realistic
children’s literature emerging in the 1960s. It also provides the reader with
an insight to a Swedish society dragged by ethnic and social tensions and to
the destiny of Roma living in Sweden.”
“Is it the mixture of fairy tale and novel, together with the ancient motif
of wandering that makes us go through this story of searching for home with
such deep empathy? Maybe it is the unimaginable adventures of Roma life that
maintain the actual attention of the readers? Or is it perhaps the destiny of a
gipsy girl growing up amongst racism in a 20th (21st) century Europe that attracts
us? And if the latter is the case – then why is it affecting us only in
the form of literature? Is it a book that will open our eyes to social
injustice and racism within society?”
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