Roma Holocaust Memorial Day
Image Credits: Iovanca Gaspar
August 02 | 7 pm
RSVP here
August 2nd marks the Roma Holocaust Memorial Day – a day to officially remember the tragic genocide of hundreds of thousands of Europe’s Roma and Sinti during the Second World War.
On that occasion, we invite you to join us for a special evening of commemoration, which includes
– a film screening of “Dui Rroma – Two Bon-Vivants”
– a piano recital by Adrian Gaspar,
– followed by Q & As with the film producer of the documentary film Iovanca Gaspar and her son Adrian Gaspar.
This event was also conceived in connection with our current exhibition “What should I be afraid of? Roma Artist Ceija Stojka“, with carefully curated original works by Ceija Stojka which also celebrates four anniversaries at once: the 90th birthday and 10th death anniversary of the artist; 30 years of recognition of Roma and Sinti as an ethnic group in Austria (1993), as well as 50 years of Austria Kultur International (1973).
In addition, the exhibition contributes to the promotion of human rights and is related to the Vienna+30 conference and the celebrations of 75 years of adoption of the UDHR.
About the film “Dui Rroma – Two Bon-Vivants”
An extraordinary documentary film that tells the story of Hugo Höllenreiner, a Sinti from Germany, concentration camp survivor and victim of Dr. Josef Mengele. He passes on his experiences to the young aspiring composer and musician Adrian Gaspar, born in Pojejena (Romania) and now living in Vienna. He deals with what he has heard on an emotional level and creates his first symphonic work, 35 minutes long with orchestra, choir and bass: the Symphonia Romani – Bari Duk. Portraits of two Roma are contrasted with one another: Hugo Höllenreiner, a successful trader and Adrian Gaspar.
The film is in the language of the Roma with English subtitles. It is the first cinematic film in the Romani language. The 45 minutes long film was supported, among others, by the Future Fund of the Republic of Austria and the National Fund of the Republic of Austria.