The natural history of non-existence

The exhibition of Gallery8 opening on April 8, the International Roma Day, demonstrates that the significance of the initiatives which were never realized and thus do not exist in Hungarian Roma history and the Roma emancipation movement play a more important role in shaping our current reality, than those which were realized.

We examine the natural history of non-existence through 18 excellent institutionconcepts developed since 1959 by Roma and non-Roma intellectuals, scientific experts, civil organizations and activists for the establishment of a Roma Museum.

Nine out of the exhibited concepts can be connected to actual locations and buildings in Hungary, with a few initiatives reaching the stage of scenery plans. The exhibited data sheets, buildings and designs reveal a systematic structure of non-existence connecting multiple generations that is both traumatic and illuminating.

Tamara Moyzes, contemporary artist visited the buildings and the locations of these non-existing museums in order to conduct an artistic activity currently prohibited by Hungarian law: to find objects (object trouvé, found objects) in garbage for artistic appropriation. These illegal ready-made artworks referencing the locations are available for sale at the exhibition.