The photographic series is anchored in the artist’s reflection on her light skin tone, which allows her to pass as non-Romani in the eyes of the dominant society. By stylising herself as a black Madonna, an iconic female character with a strong identification potential for Romani people, she questions the representation of non-white female figures in Central-European cultural canons. In her work, Rigová often draws attention to social groups, who have been systematically omitted from dominant cultural and historical narratives. Visions of the common future of the Romani community, as well as their collective memory, have been a recurring theme in the artist’s oeuvre.
Emília Rigová is a visual artist based in Slovakia. In her installations, performances, and site-specific interventions, she explores ways in which emotions are influenced by particular socio-cultural environments. She is concerned with social stereotypes, Romani identity, and psychological shadows.
