Artist lecture-performance
Moone People Making Magic like Dr. Dee
with Roma Biennale (Delaine le Bas, Hamze Bytyçi, & László Farkas)
11 Jun 25,
7.00–10.00 pm
“A Moone-man signifies in English, a mad-man, be∣cause the Moone hath greatest domination (aboue any other Planet) ouer the bodies of Frantick persons. But these Moone-men (whose Images are now to be carued) are neither absolutely mad, not yet perfectely in their wits) Their name they borrow from the Moone, because as the Moone is neuer in one shape two nights together, but wanders vp & downe Heauen, like an An∣ticke, so these changeable-stuffe-companions neuer tary one day in a place, but are the onely, and the onely base Ronnagats vpon earth. And as in the Moone there is a man, that neuer stirres without a bush of thornes at his backe, so these Moone-men lie vnder bushes, & are indéed no better then Hedge creepers.”
– Thomas Dekker, 1609, Moone men. A discouery of a strange wild people, very dangerous to townes and country villages.
In Elizabethan England, the alchemist and astrologer Dr. John Dee consulted the Queen on the founding of the British Empire. In his writing, he referred to the “Egyptians” in England as magical people with a relationship to the moon. We now know he was referring to Romani people and Travelers in his studies, using a derogatory term also found in the writing of other white British scholars. How do early modern appropriations of Romani culture intertwine with colonial histories and magical practice? How are these echoes felt today?
The Roma Biennale is the first self-organized biennale by and with Roma artists from all over Europe. In 2018, their first edition COME OUT NOW! focussed on feminist and queer Roma movements. The heart of the program was the Long Night of Coming Out, which intertwined Roma futurism, astrological symbolism, and cliches beyond all measure. Three artists who took part will revive aspects of this performance in the Galerie im Turm under the full moon on June 11th. They will reflect on the Biennale’s significance and sharing how queer Roma futurist magic affects their work today. Expect witchy house music videos, astrological card games, as well as insights into the political and magical histories of Romani creative practices, and how they all relate.
Accessibility information:
Free entry. This event will take place in spoken English. There will be chairs with backs and bean bag chairs available. For more accessibility information visit our about page or email or call us.
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Artists:
Delaine le Bas works with fabrics, film, performance, photography and sculpture creating large scale immersive installations. She was one of the sixteen artists, who formed Paradise Lost The First Roma Pavilion at Venice Biennale in 2007. She worked with her late husband the artist Damian Le Bas (1963-2017): in 2017 they worked together for the stage designs, costumes and texts for Roma Army at Maxim Gorki Theatre Berlin. Delaine was one of the nominees for the 40th Turner Prize at Tate Britain London 2024. Delaine lives in Worthing West Sussex U.K with her new partner Lincoln Cato who works on scenographic, sculptural and performative elements with her.
Hamze Bytyçi is an artist, curator, and cultural worker. Since 2012, he has chaired the RomaTrial e.V., which he founded. In 2017, he initiated the “International Roma Film Festival AKE DIKHEA?”, which has taken place annually in Berlin under his direction ever since. In 2018 and 2020/2021, he co-curated the 1st and 2nd Roma Biennale. Since September 2022, he has been the Artistic Director of the program at Grüner Salon of the Volksbühne at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz. He is a board member of neue deutsche organisationen and a member of “CPPD – The Coalition for Pluralistic Public Discourse” as well as “Vielfalt im Film”.
László Farkas: Proud queer Rroma ♤ 1st AI of Color ♡ Chipsie Unikorn ♡ Biorobot ◇ Just another slave of capitalism ♧ Love is the drug & Music is the answer.
László Farkas aka Lazlorrobot Homorrobot is a Hungarian multidisciplinary artist, DJ, queer Roma activist. Between 2015 and 2019 he was the organizer of the Roma LGBTQI floats at Budapest Pride. He was the founder and editor of queer Roma community media projects (QRTV Europa, TV Baxtale). Since 2020, he is a member of the Ame Panzh (“The Five of Us”) activist collective, awarded with the Raoul Wallenberg Prize in Hungary for social and political public service.
