Gomma Photography Grant 2024
All i can give you is my blood - Exploiting Hungary’s Most Vulnerable
Photographer
Bela Varadi
All i can give you is my blood - Exploiting Hungary’s Most Vulnerable
20 Jan, 2025
A growing industry in the Rust Belt region of northeastern Hungary relies on blood plasma from the region's most marginalized communities. In recent years, more than 50 plasma centers have been opened across the country, each place collecting up to 2,600 liters per week. Although Hungarian laws limit payments to HUF 7,500 per donation, the regulations regarding additional incentives are minimal. Many centers attract frequent donors by offering points, bonuses and lottery entries as rewards. In the economically struggling eastern region, where Roma communities are strongly affected, plasma donation has become a certain source of income. Despite the legal limit of two donations per week, the lack of centralized tracking allows individuals to visit multiple centers per week. This lack of regulation not only entails health risks, but also benefits companies connected to the political elite, who profit from the most vulnerable population, the Romas.
About the photographer
Bela Varadi
"I am a Hungarian-born Roma photographer living in London. My documentary photographs are centred around themes of human rights activism, LGBTQI+ and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) experiences. My photos have been exhibited in Berlin, Milan, Göteborg, Hungary, London and at the Glastonbury Festival in 2022, 2023, 2024. Exhibitions: Visual Stories - Solo Exhibition: 4. Oktober -20. Oktober 2024. Borosodnadasd, Hungary CRUISING UTOPIA: SCENES FROM THE ROMA-QUEER IMAGINATION ;Exhibition: 20. September – 11. January 2025, Foundation Kai Dikhas & Art Space, Berlin, 2024 In Plain Sight - group exhibition, Dartford, Kent - MIck Jagger Centre, 2024 Dubbelexponerat Community Festival - Göteborg, 2024 Queer Museum - London, 2024 Queer Festival Heidelberg exhibition - "Queer Heroes in Focus", 2024 BBA One-Shot Award – Berlin, 2023 Del Sarenge Festival di arte romaně in Triennale - Milan, 2023 Atchin Tan - Lead artist – Glastonbury Festival, 2023 Atchin Tan – Glastonbury Festival, 2022 A Town Explores a Book Festival - Hasting, 2022 Recent photography awards and nominations: Habib Hajallie Arts Council funded mentorship & exhibition project titled ‘In Plain Sight’, at the Mick Jagger Centre in Dartford, 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards - Ethical reporting on Roma and fight against racism and antigypsyism through the media - Shortlisted in photojournalism category, 2024 Fine Art Photography Awards, Conceptual 2nd place winner, 2024 FAPA, Photojournalism nominee, 2023"
