Light
On International Roma Day 2021, as part of our Love Speech campaign, we launched Light, a new video installation that provokes people to think about Roma visibility, discrimination, and the lack of inclusion. The artwork is by the artist Venelin Shurelov and is the second of our series of urban interventions, part of our campaign against hate speech. Shurelov uses street lighting as a way to "illuminate" the faces of a community whose dreams and plights remain invisible, and reminds us that the future is brighter together.
“My task is to "shed light" on a marginalized community. The projected faces are both a collection of individuals, but also a practical reminder to see our path, watch our steps, and who we step on,” says Venelin Shurelov.
Photos: Mihail Novakov
Video: Venelin Shurelov
FOR OUR LOVE SPEECH CAMPAIGN, WE ENGAGED 35 OF THE LEADING BULGARIAN ARTISTS IN A VAST CAMPAIGN AGAINST HATE SPEECH, FEATURING A SERIES OF URBAN ART INTERVENTIONS, A PARTICIPATORY INSTALLATION, A VIRAL ONLINE VIDEO, AND A LARGE FREE-TO-USE COLLECTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
IN BULGARIA, HATE SPEECH HAS BEEN ON THE RISE, ESPECIALLY TOWARDS ROMA, LGBTI+ PEOPLE, AND REFUGEES. OUR CAMPAIGN REACHED MORE THAN ONE MILLION PEOPLE, RAISING AWARENESS OF THE FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS OF HATE SPEECH FOR SOCIETY.
The project "Creative Campaigns: Innovation in Support of Human Rights" is implemented with the financial support of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway within the EEA Financial Mechanism. The main goal of the project "Creative Campaigns: Innovation in Support of Human Rights" is to strengthen the public support for human rights in Bulgaria, as well as to increase the capacity of the civil sector to conduct campaigns.
This video was created with the financial support of Active Citizens Bulgaria Fund within the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area. The entire responsibility for its content rests with the Fine Acts Foundation and under no circumstances can it be assumed that this video reflects the official opinion of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area and the Operator of Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria. More about Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria: https://www.activecitizensfund.bg/
