"Manuš Means Human": Exploring Roma Emancipation and Social Exclusion through Art by Averklub Collective

This exhibition by Averklub Collective, comprised of residents from the Chanov housing estate and collaborating artists, delves into the history and policies of Roma integration in Czechoslovakia. It examines themes of equality, work, housing, and emancipation through historical and contemporary artworks, aiming to create counter-narratives to mainstream exoticization.

Averklub Collective, a fluid group of residents from the Chanov housing estate and various artists, theorists, and activists, presents 'Manuš Means Human'. This exhibition is a deep dive into the group’s latest research and artworks, produced in collaboration with multiple generations of Chanov residents. The title is inspired by Vincent Danihel's 1986 book on Roma integration policies in socialist Czechoslovakia. The collective uses this title to highlight shared human belonging beyond cultural, gender, or national differences. The exhibition investigates the successes and failures of Roma emancipation efforts, both generally and specifically within the Chanov estate's history. It features historical and contemporary artworks that address critical themes such as work, poverty, housing, and the physical environment, alongside political organization and emancipation. These works weave counter-narratives against the persistent exoticization of Roma by mainstream culture. By referencing key historical moments like the First World Romani Congress of 1971 and incorporating personal accounts from Chanov residents, the exhibition sheds light on Roma self-organization in combating social exclusion, poverty, and racism from a non-elitist perspective.

For information about our education program and scheduling inquiries, please contact [email protected]. General admission details are not specified on this page, but the exhibition is located at Kunsthalle Wien within the Museumsquartier. An exhibition guide is available for download.