Unikum 08 October nett

it and I am a good friend with the witches from Mogoșoaia whom
I worked with and I find that a certain swap is being produced
between us, because I learned a lot of things from them, but also,
they do the same from me. I mean, every time when something
crappy happens politically, I call them, and they do their rituals,
which was the case with that person from Salvini’s party [Matteo
Salvini], we were streaming the ritual. It is clear that somehow it
grew and I am glad that it did not remain only at an artistic level,
but that it arrived also to the real witches.
-The public does not have to have a formed discourse about
political theatre. The role of art is to deliver all sorts of experiences,
and you do not need any kind of training in order to enjoy a visual
or instrumental experience. There are some who come more
prepared and some who do not, but that is totally ok.
-The theatre critics write from a whole different perspective.
Sincerely, I do not think we have progressive theatre critics in
Romania. There are some, like maybe two or three women, but it
is easier at the same time in theatre. They are interested in this
feminist Roma theatre that we represent…
I really enjoyed how you used hair as a way to unite women, as a
metaphor for feminism. Could you talk a little bit more about how
you came up with this idea?
- Hair is very much used in witchcraft. At least that was the
connection in my mind. And I think it is pretty dope how it is used
now, in the movement of the Iranian women protesters, and in the
recent global movements of women cutting their hair. Hair, yes,
I find it becomes a metaphor for our struggle, for our solidarity,
for our rights. And at the same time, it bears a lot of energetic
charge and that is why it is used in witchcraft. There also exists this
practice, this custom, to have long hair. And that is why it is covered
at times, so you would not do spells on it, so somebody would not
take your own hair. And it seemed very safe this idea that, if there
was a future without oppression for us, it would be kept in the
braids of Roma women. In my mind it was this very poetic idea
that the future would be kept in the hair of Roma women, between
their braids. And if the moment comes, that is where the seeds for
such a future must be kept. It goes back to Olivia Butler – I like the
idea of the seeds being planted for the future. Visually, the hair is
very aesthetic. And, because a lot of Roma witches come from more
traditional families, they keep their hair very long and it’s part of
their corporality, of their gestures that they use while performing,
there is a connection regarding it.
Interview with Mihaela Drăgan conducted and translated by Paul-
Daniel Golban, October 2022.
Foto: From the set of Roma Stars // Giuvlipen
OCTOBER 2022 UNIKUM NR 8 39