RʳOMA LEPANTO refers to the naval Battle of Lepanto (1571), highlighting the role of enslaved Gitanos from Spain and Roma from Italy, tasked with rowing galleys The originally site-specic installation initiates a discourse concerning the (in)visibility and recognition of Roma contributions to European history and societies. Artists of Roma origin take a different perspective both on the historic battle, but also on art as a mean of liberation from the shadows of the past. The exhibition had been shown in Venice on occasion of the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale de Venezia 2024 Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners everywhere. In Venice the choice of the exhibition venue was deliberate: the show took place at Palazzo Bembo next to Rialto Bridge, as Giovanni Bembo served as commander during the battle, which culminated in the triumph of the Holy Alliance. Now RʳOMA LEPANTO is to rewrite history and the exhibition was already seen in Venice by more than 135.000 visitors, which makes it the most successful exhibition of Foundation Kai Dikhas so far.
RʳOMA LEPANTO builds on the legacy of previous successful exhibitions which have taken place in Venice as so called Roma Pavillons as collateral events during the Venice Biennial. The exhibition demands a permanent place for the art of Europes largest minority with in the Biennial. Roma are part of Venetian as of European history, of its arts and culture and they should be part of a future biennial, which – in a united Europe – should take a new take on the question “what is a nation?“
Curators: Moritz Pankok und Miguel Angel Vargas Rubio.
