Samuel Florin

Thoughts on ROM

Because of our history and past experiences, every time the Roma or the Roma community are approached by a stranger, whether it is for the purpose of research, an interview or something similar, many are instantly on tenterhooks questioning the motives of the newcomer and how the collected information will be used.  

At the start of 2017, Jonne Heinonen visited the premises of my then employer Jyväskylän Romaninuoret ry (Roma Youth of Jyväskylä Association). During that first meeting he told me about his project and his plans but expressed also genuine interest in our job and in me, Samuel, as a person. The project was still in early stages and Jonne’s vision was just starting to take shape, but I was impressed by his open-heartedness and relaxed persona and wanted to be part of the project.  

I think it must be hard in today’s “hypersensitive” culture to make these types of projects about different minorities, especially if you yourself are not part of a minority or a member of the minority in question. Jonne mulled over this idea with me as well as with other Roma he met. Nevertheless, the most important thing in these projects is the motive and the approach of the “outsider”. Based on my experience with the artist, the project did not view the Roma as an ”object” but was made with the Roma about the Roma.   

What I find interesting about Jonne’s approach is his genuine desire to get to know people and document normal everyday moments and encounters by photographing them. As if the fact that those people were Finnish Roma was a secondary issue. He was very professional without losing the freedom and creativity in the process.  

Over the years Jonne and I have kept more or less in touch and met several times. Sometimes we discuss the role of the Roma from the perspective of history, modern society or culture, and sometimes we just talk about mundane everyday things and troubles.  

Maria Swanljung, the former Head of Communication of Finnish Non-Discrimination Ombudsman, describes the role of minorities in media with the following words:  

”The depiction of minorities in media follows a pattern that casts minorities often in similar roles: crooks, victims or heroes, oftentimes participating in some conflict. Heavy polarisation and presenting members of minorities as ’Other’, an outsider, is also a common angle in the media when covering minorities.”  

”A Roma is a hero if he or she graduates from basic education, otherwise a criminal.” 
Maria Swanljung, Miksi moniäänisempi media on parempi media, 
yhdenvertaisuusvaltuutettu.fi, 2018.  

Jonne Heinonen’s photographs capturing both the day-to-day life as well as celebrations of the Roma are historically significant. Especially in these times it is great to show the general public that the majority of the Roma live similarly to the rest of the society with their joys and troubles.  

It has been an honour and a pleasure to get to know Jonne and call him a friend.