Slowly is a video performance Norbert recorded in the residency studio. On the left side of the two-channel video, we see him reading one by one, removing the Romanian – Hungarian translations of the work left behind by the previous resident, and then leaving spaces to emerge in the right-hand image, where sticky paper cels inscribed with the corresponding Romani translations are placed on the wall. The long process creates a time-based Hungarian (Romanian) – Romani lexicon. Visually, the Romanian – Hungarian set is almost completely integrated into the set of Romani inscriptions.
Why is translation important? More than simple linguistic pairing, it is a culturally encoded process of transformation, characterized by openness to other cultures and a continuous dialogue. Furthermore, it is worth considering the stratification of the Romani language, which consists of a stable layer of words from the period of European immigration, followed by a mobile vocabulary resulting from the interaction of migrating Roma groups with different linguistic areas, and finally a third layer of words that emerge as a result of modernization and globalization. Through these different interactions, Romani is constantly evolving, growing, and “mixing” so to speak, ensuring that a universal version is not viable, but can only function as a convention code in certain areas. Some Romani language variants do not have words for certain concepts due to the fact that they are not known by the users, are extinct or never existed. This is when what Norbert calls “romanization” occurs, and the user takes words from the source or majority language and adapts them to Romani.
Norbert Kuki’s Slowly is more than two and a half hours long, and to watch it in its entirety requires an open mind, time, and patience. It is a different experience for those who fully watch it and those who only see part of it, and for those who know Romani and those who don’t. Even if we do not strive for a complete understanding, the image settles in us, as the artist walks between the two wall surfaces/language areas, trying to bridge the cultural differences in his translation, appropriate the context, and add something to it.
Although four weeks of residency do not allow for a more in-depth acquaintance with the host environment, it can be inspiring for both artist and audience. This certainly seems to be true for Norbert, who wants to continue the translation work he has begun and is thinking of creating an international database involving young Roma people.
Text by: Angel Judit
