In the cellar of the Museum of Romanian Peasant there are two small rooms dedicated to the “collectivization” of agriculture in Romania which took place in the early years of the communist regime. Started in 1949 the project sought to force the peasants to bring their land into collective farms. Aside from the persistent propaganda, violent means like intimidation, beating, arrest and imprisonment were used to convince peasants to join. According to the wikipedia article, by 1962 a total of 96% of the country’s arable surface and 93.4% of its agricultural land had been included in collective structures. To achieve this 80.000 peasants were taken to court, 30.000 of which were judged and found guilty in public trials. The effect of the small rooms is rather chilling. The first room is wallpapered with old newspapers clippings while the second room looks like one used for a party meeting, where “traitors” were brought forward, accused and asked to self-criticize. In the photo you can see the entrance to the first room where one corner is occupied with a collection of busts from that era.
Feb 062010
The Stalin painting and the Lenin statues are quite a collection of history! Wouldn't one of the Lenin ones make a great "paper weight?"
A very powerful photo and post. Those were not fun times for people under the Soviet thumb. Bad memories. But I think they are important for we need to be reminded of the overwhelming cruelty that becomes "normality" under the rule of the power hungry. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Always has and always will.
imposing painting as are those busts on the side.
Not a bad idea as a reminder of those times. Someone here still would consider this a shrine.
VP 🙂 I forgot to mention that the exhibition is titled "The Pest". Talk about different points of view 🙂