Looking at respectable estimates there are currently 8 Million Roma living as a national minority among 300 other ethnic minorities in the European Union. Therefore it is the biggest minority in this community of states. 5,5 Million Roma are living in Eastern Europe, where conditions for them are worse than in other parts of Europe.
With this work in progress, I'd like to raise the public´s awareness for the shocking sanitary and settlement issues these people are facing right on our doorstep. Racist discrimination and persecution like in Hungary or France are only the tip of the iceberg.
Even 5 years into the 'Decade of Roma Inclusion' (2005 – 2015) not much has improved. Quite the opposite. Especially in Eastern Europe more right-wing parties are in office since the early 2000´s and bad feelings are stirring up against this minority.
My aim is to show the public their way of living on the fringes of society by the means of social documentary photography. To achieve my goal to get people interested in the Roma´s fortune, a bare description of the Roma´s situation would simply not do the job. That is why I opted for a more engaging and touching depiction as well as connecting this social issue with aesthetic values.
With this work in progress, I'd like to raise the public´s awareness for the shocking sanitary and settlement issues these people are facing right on our doorstep. Racist discrimination and persecution like in Hungary or France are only the tip of the iceberg.
Even 5 years into the 'Decade of Roma Inclusion' (2005 – 2015) not much has improved. Quite the opposite. Especially in Eastern Europe more right-wing parties are in office since the early 2000´s and bad feelings are stirring up against this minority.
My aim is to show the public their way of living on the fringes of society by the means of social documentary photography. To achieve my goal to get people interested in the Roma´s fortune, a bare description of the Roma´s situation would simply not do the job. That is why I opted for a more engaging and touching depiction as well as connecting this social issue with aesthetic values.