Małgorzata Mirga-Tas's Carousel of Memory at Collezione Maramotti

The Collezione Maramotti in Reggio Emilia presents "The Big Dipper Will Foretell the Future of the Roma," a solo exhibition by Polish Romani artist Małgorzata Mirga-Tas (b. 1987, Zakopane). The show centers on a carousel sculpture, each seat bearing a textile portrait of a Sinti family from Reggio Emilia, made from donated clothing, fabric fragments, and materials sourced from flea markets and private homes. The upper part of the carousel uses archival texts to trace the historical presence of Roma and Sinti in Emilia-Romagna since 1422, weaving together chronicles, poems, and testimonies. Surrounding the carousel, a large textile work and wooden horses reference the tradition of traveling showmen, a generational craft symbolizing journey and resistance. The project emerged from participatory research with the local community, incorporating photographs, documents, and interviews into a living archive. Mirga-Tas describes the act of sewing as therapeutic and reparative, stating, "When someone gives me a dress, I feel that their presence, their energy, remains inside." The artist, who represented Poland at the 2022 Venice Biennale, uses textile art to challenge anti-Romani stereotypes and reframe migration as a form of thought and existence. The exhibition runs until February 8, 2026.