The purpose of the non-profit foundation Kai Dikhas (Romanes: “place to see”) is to promote Sinti and Roma art and culture while making it accessible to a wider public. The foundation will incorporate, expand and present the Gallery Kai Dikhas art collection. In addition, the foundation will support publications and projects concerning Sinti and Roma art and culture, organize art exhibitions and workshops, and publish editions.
The foundation continues the work of Gallery Kai Dikhas, located in Aufbau Haus at Moritzplatz in Berlin, which was established in 2011 by Moritz Pankok (curator, director and stage designer) and Matthias Koch (managing director of Aufbau Haus GmbH) as the first permanent gallery for contemporary art by Sinti and Roma artists. Since then, Pankok has organized about 100 solo and group exhibitions at the Berlin location as well as internationally. Gallery Kai Dikhas artists have exhibited in Paris (2016), Prague (2017), Madrid (2017) and in Granada (2018), most recently at the launch of the RomArchive in 2019 at the Akademie der Künste in Berlin and in the FutuRoma Pavilion commissioned by ERIAC and curated by Dr. Daniel Baker at the 58th Venice Biennale.
In recognition of Gallery Kai Dikhas’ accomplishments, the Premio de la Cultura Gitana of the Instituto de la Cultura Gitana, Madrid, was awarded in 2016.
Through direct purchases from exhibiting artists, the gallery has acquired an extensive collection of large-format paintings, art installations and sculptures.
The Board of Trustees will include Matthias Koch as chairman and Moritz Pankok as curator. The foundation, a registered corporation, has acquired non-profit status.