Daniel Pešta's "I was born in your bed": A Multimedia Art Exhibition on Romani Identity

An exhibition by multimedia artist Daniel Pešta, this comprehensive showing in the Czech Republic focuses on the Romani issue and societal attitudes towards it, featuring video art and portraiture. The project draws parallels between class photographs and the gradual concealment of faces, prompting reflection on identity and societal perceptions.

This exhibition by multimedia artist Daniel Pešta, whose work was featured in the 2013 Venice Biennale, presents a comprehensive exploration of the Romani issue in the Czech Republic for the first time. Dominated by two large-format video art pieces, the project delves into individuals’ attitudes towards the Romani population. The title and core concept are derived from video art pieces featuring a performance by children, titled 'I was born in your bed – Narodil jsem se ve tvé posteli.' This concept is inspired by the arrangement of class photographs, where children gradually cover their faces, symbolizing how the majority population views the Romani issue as separate from their own existence. Pešta reflects on the hypothetical reversal of fates, suggesting that different circumstances might lead to different behaviors, a complexity that current perceptions often overlook. The installation in Litomyšl was created in response to the street fighting and intolerance witnessed in the Czech Republic during the preceding summer and autumn. The exhibition highlights the significant challenges faced by the Romani minority and the unresolved nature of finding a satisfactory solution, emphasizing that hatred and violence are detrimental paths. Accompanying the large-format video art are small-scale portraits of the children, encouraging viewers to engage closely with their personalities, each underscored by the statement 'I am Gypsy and you?', referencing the vital pride in origins for healthy child development. Pešta also presents assemblages, objects, and videos utilizing multicolored silicon masks, whose inherent softness contrasts with the harsh societal divisions often observed.

The exhibition took place from July 19 to September 5, 2014, in Litomyšl. Specific ticketing information for this past exhibition is not detailed on the page, but general information about the venue and event dates is provided. Visitors are directed to a specific exhibition website for more details, which may have contained ticketing information at the time of the event.