Oskár Čepan

In my work, I document my journey of exploration within Romani culture. Along the way, I strive to “Romify” the world around me, a process that simultaneously reveals further layers of questions. On this journey, I seek new ways to retell stories, finding truth in legends, history, dreams, and the Romani experience. My goal is to define the contemporary Romani identity and engage the public in this process in a playful way. I express myself through videos, short films, music (as the producer of rapper Big Ronn, who raps exclusively in Romani), and in collaboration with the streetwear brand ROMA SPORT. I perceive each of these expressions as a form of activism that supports identity and engagement within the community. My philosophy is to reach the widest possible audience, which is why I strive to create art that is accessible and functional even outside of galleries. In any case, “To us power is, first of all, the ability to define phenomena, and secondly the ability to make these phenomena act in a desired manner.” – Huey P. Newton