minor(ity) 31. Painting

Minor(ity) My mother had a shop. A young gipsy woman went in to do some shopping. She chose a knife. It costs HUF 560. I’ve got just 500 forints on me. Do have it, you’ll give the rest when you walk over here. But I’m a gipsy! It was about 20 years ago when my mother told this story to me. I think it was the first time when I bethought myself of what it is like to be born stigmatic. A friend of mine had a baby three years ago. When I hear something racist, anti­Semitic or homophobic talking in the street, on the bus or more and more frequently in the media, I think of his daughter. How can Sárika be protected against all this? How can he explain her that many people will hate or despise her or be dread of her even if she wins a Nobel Prize, or her works are exhibited on Venice Biennale or wins a gold medal in the Olympic Games. And how can he get it across to her that yet she should win the Olympic Games, the Nobel Prize. I still do not know if I am able to convince anybody by these pictures, portraits of gipsy children to face their prejudice. I have no other means but my paintings, my single mean to draw your attention or give them real help. If you buy any of these paintings the half of its price will support Oltalom Karitatív Egyesület (Protection Charity Society). Beside running schools and kinder gardens for them, this organization – for already 25 years – has been helping with all possible means the people in misery either in Budapest or in the country­side in Hungary.