The exhibition "Contemporary and Historical Romani Artists and Craftsmen"
South foyer, Sara Kulturhus, Skellefteå
In conjunction with The Travelling People's Day, Sep 29th, the exhibition "Contemporary and Historical Romani Artists and Craftsmen" will be on display.
The exhibition showcases images of objects made and used by the Travellers. Craftsmanship has always been of great importance to the Travellers, and it has often been their means of livelihood.
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11:00 AM - The exhibition opens
Helen Hugosson from Sensus and Britt-Inger Hedström from Dikko will be present.
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11:00 AM - The exhibition opens
Helen Hugosson from Sensus will be present.
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Read more about the guided tour of the exhibition
No one knows exactly how many people in Sweden have a Resande background, as we do not have registration based on ethnicity. Some estimate 30,000, others 100,000. Many have kept their identity secret. However, more and more Romani people are coming forward about their Resande heritage, and today, the number of those researching their family history and taking DNA tests to reclaim their identity is growing.
The Resandefolket (the Travelers) were recognized in 2000 as a national minority within the Romani group in Sweden. Those referred to as Resande today are considered to be the first Romani immigrants who arrived in the Nordic region in the 1500s, with origins in India. In addition to the Resande, there are also Swedish Roma, Finnish Roma, non-Nordic Roma, and newly arrived Roma within the national Romani minority.
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Examples of objects displayed in the exhibition:
Older Silver/Gold Brooches
The simple Resande brooch – a brooch used at markets and other occasions when people wanted to recognize each other without speaking.
Resande Knife/Tjuro
Resande knives – or tjuro – are beautifully crafted knives made by, often, unknown artisans. The knife in the exhibition was made by Anselm Swartz. Tjuro refers to a type of knife made and sold by the Resande in Sweden and Norway, primarily during the 20th century. However, there are still several knife makers among the Resandefolket. The Resande knife has a unique design, its own history, and is a part of Resande culture.
Leather Bracelet/Jimm
The leather bracelet – made by Quest Leite, a versatile craftsman. He lives in Gothenburg where he often creates his pieces at his kitchen table. Many of the crafts made by the Resande feature symbols that represent their ethnicity.
