Gypsies no more

A Roma Woman in Buzescu

Much of contemporary history is the history of mobility and rise, of peoples (and nations) who have been traditionally marginalized and/or persecuted in myriad ways.

The gypsies, or the Roma of Europe, are one such group whose fortunes have risen, at least in the small town of Buzescu in the Romanian capital of Bucharest.

Photographers Karla Gachet and Ivan Kashinsky spent some time in this town photographing the daily lives of those who were once upon a time looked down upon as the lowest class of humans in Europe.

We all know a bit about the history of the European gypsies: Descended from displaced nomads of the ancient landmass of undivided "Hindustan," the Roma have been persecuted by one and all ranging from the beasts--the Nazis--to the putative beauties--the French, who continue to deport the Roma from France, primarily because the stereotype of the Roma is the thief, the foot people who can't be trusted.

Yet after the dismantling of Communism, the Roma of Romania have become multi-millionaires by dealing in the buying and selling of copper.

As the photographic duo show us, The Roma have built magnificent mansions with BMW's parked in the genteel driveways.

However, there is a strange paradox in their lifestyles: Many of the gorgeous rooms in the Roma mansions remain unfurnished and empty and unoccupied because the Roma don't live in them. Like their predecessors, they travel all year round hunting for copper. Even when family members gather together, mostly during events like marriage, death or religious rituals, they do so in the smaller, less opulent rooms. 

Some say that the Roma are nomadic innately and the opulent mansions are mere symbols of their rising economic power. They are trying to change the world's perception of them as poor, raggedy and footloose.

The Roma are essentially deeply traditional people and "modernity" is something they partake in to be conformists, so they don't stand out.