On May 30th, 2012, Inna Rogatchi’s The Route exhibition was inaugurated at the European Parliament.
The exhibition was part of the commemoration of The Day of Jerusalem at the European Parliament. The event was initiated by MEP Hannu Takkula and supported by a number of his colleagues at the European Parliament and is organised in co-operation with the EJCC and B’nai B’rith International and other organisations based in Brussels. The event has been celebrated annually starting in 2007. According to MEP Hannu Takkula, “the event is growing in its importance and scale, and bringing new and higher level participants and supporters from inside and outside the European Parliament”.
The event and the exhibition gathered a very large number of attendants. The official delegation of the state of Israel led by minister, general Yossi Peled did arrive specifically to take part in the events. Guests from Israel also included internationally famous public leader rabbi Benny Elon. Among the guests were former president of Lithuania professor Vytauskas Landsbergis, former president of Poland Alexander Kwasniewski, former prime-minister of Slovenia Aloiz Peterle, and other well-known political and public figures from many countries.
The guests were addressed by Vice-President of the European Parliament MEP Alejos Vidal-Quadras, who said in his speech: “My favourite work from Inna Rogatchi’s stunning exhibition is Hurva Return showing us rebuild in her beauty famous historic synagogue in the heart of Jerusalem. It symbolises to me very vividly those three pillars on which Inna Rogatchi is talking in her remarks to her photographs, namely – love, wisdom and hope. It inspires me with belief and the position which I think we all should have, to approach stability and peace in this vital for all of us region”.
Vice-President of the European Parliament Alejo Vidal-Quadras addressed the public at the ceremony of the opening of Inna Rogatchi’s The Route exhibition at the comemmoration of Jerusalem Day at the European Parliament, May 30th, 2012. Next to the speaker are Mr Nuno Wanhon Martins, the head of B’nai B’rith Europe, artist Dr Inna Rogatchi, MEP, professor Laima Andrikiene (Lithuania).
Courtesy: The Rogatchi Foundation ©
Inna Rogatchi has become the first Finnish artist invited to present her exhibition at the comemmoration of the Day of Jerusalem at the European Parliament. In her address to the public, Dr Rogatchi said:
“It is hard to imagine today France without Chagall, or Italy without Modigliani, or the Czech Republic without Kafka. The influence of Jewish culture, Jewish talent and spirit have been nourishing to every place where Jewish people were forced to go on their Route. There were a lot of oppressions and persecutions on that long way, and a lot of tragedies, – but my people did not descend into bitterness or violence. Quite the contrary, their talent, their wisdom and of course, a pinch of humour which has become ‘a necessary’ ingredient in the diet of surviving, have been enriching the life of those countries where Jewish people were forced to go and live, all over Europe”.