Migration

The Principle of Migration

The Principle of Migration

In 1880s Ernst Georg Ravenstein, the German-British geographer and cartographer established a theory of human migration that is still at the basis of modern migration concepts. His laws or principles of migration were published in the Geographical Magazine of 1876 and the Journal of the Statistical Society in 1885 and 1889. Taking into account that these laws were based on data available in the pre-modern traditional society with limited migration and circulation as opposed to the situation in post-industrial society, migration patterns and behaviors may still reflect these laws, but they could also be extended. The push and pull factor for migration are being constantly reshaped by the political, social, cultural factors and humanitarian needs of individuals. The question is not only how these factors shape migration, but also how migration shapes them. In the light of the recent refugee and migration waves in Europe, the war in Syria and the effects of contemporary wars on nation-state ideals, the need to understand the current processes of migration and its short and long-term impact is imperative. Eastern Europe is not necessarily a target for migrants and it plays the role of a bridge between the place of origin and the final destination in Western Europe. On the other hand it is also a large-scale producer of migration. A significant percentage of the working force migrates towards countries in Western Europe for a better life. In current statistics Romania is the second country after Syria with the highest flow of migrants towards the West. The former Eastern Block with its issues of poverty, segregation, inequality, and ideological vulnerability is also a challenging geo-political and cultural territory and may reveal particular perspectives on migration, discussing the nuances around immmigrant, emigrant and refugee identities. Some of the artists presented in this project are also emigrants/immigrants.

Considering principles of migration are based on a human rights international law and recommended policies, the gaps between facts and normative guidelines, between human rights and national sovereignty of the neo-liberal state, set critical and nuanced perspectives on a phenomenon that is transforming the world.

The Principle of Migration features artists from countries such as Romania, Republic of Moldavia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Germany as well as artists from NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Program.

Events:

1. Experimental Project Association presented in the frame of the project The Principle of Migration a discussion on the theme Migration and Representation on Wednessday October 23rd, from h 19.00. The discussion was followed by a screening with the video artworks presented in the exhibition at New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) between November 7th – December 20th 2019. The debate brought to attention varied and nuanced perspectives on the representation of migration, emigrants, immigrants and refugees in the public space, mass media, social media, culture and visual arts in Romania, in the European space and in the USA. The identities of those who migrate influenced by certain factors and a certain economic, socio-cultural, political context are in turn shaped by prejudices, by the ways in which the relation between the concept of citizenship, national identity and migration is built. These identities, as well as the problems that emigrants and immigrants face in their relocation process, as well as the identification and observance of their rights, are determined by the limits of the legislative apparatus, but also by the systems of cultural mentalities and visions that function unevenly in relation to history and the contexts of each territory. These differences generate different conversations, perspectives and effects.

Speakers:
Ovidiu Voicu (Association Center for Public Innovation),
Oana Baluta (Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences, University of Bucharest), as well as a part of the participating artists.

2. Experimental Project presented the exhibition The Principle of Migration, curated by Olivia Nitis and hosted by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) between November 7th – December 20th 2019.

Artists:
Matei Bejenaru (Romania), Cătălin Burcea (Romania), Lana Čmajčanin (Bosnia and Herzegovina/Austria), Simona Deaconescu (Romania), Alicja Gaskon (Poland/USA), Elana Katz (Germany/USA), Anca Munteanu Rimnic (Germany/Romania), Marilena Preda Sânc (Romania), Sandra Sterle (Croatia), Valeriu Șchiau (Romania/Republic of Moldavia), Patricia Teodorescu (Romania), Ivana Todorovic (Serbia).

3. Experimental Project organized in the frame of the project The Principle of Migration an on-line video Live Dialogue between New York and Bucharest mainly focused on an experience exchange related to the efforts of cultural integration of immigrants. The open dialogue will be presided by representatives from both countries involved directly in collaborations with immigrant artists or supporting immigrant artists from all over the world as in the case of New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) with their Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program. The speakers in NY were Felicity Hogan, representing NYFA’s Immigrant Mentroship Program, the artist Matei Bejenaru, curator Olivia Nițiș and project coordinator Ciprian Ciuclea. From Romania, Gabriela Iacob representing WASP and a part of the artists: Valeriu Șchiau, Marilena Preda Sânc, Patricia Teodorescu and Cătălin Burcea.

 

The project does not necessarily represent the official position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN shall not be held liable for the content of the project or any use to which the project outcomes may be used. These are the sole responsibility of the beneficiary of the funding.

Curator

Olivia Nitis

Artists

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