InZIDerabilii

The “InZIDerabilii” project aimed to reduce the high level of segregation experienced by the population of the Apărătorii Patriei neighborhood (also known as Dallas), compared to other neighborhoods in the city of Iași. This area is considered Iași’s ghetto, with its residents facing social segregation unlike other citizens of the city. The neighborhood is not connected to the sewage or gas networks, not all residents have access to running water, roads are unpaved, and the area is marginalized. Car access is limited to just two entry points, both quite far from the most densely populated part of the neighborhood. The nearest public transport stop is over 1 km away. In addition to the inadequate infrastructure, the neighborhood is also isolated due to other factors such as low levels of education and cultural access, poverty, ethnicity, poor sanitation, and the use of synthetic drugs (ethnobotanicals), all contributing to the ongoing phenomenon of social segregation.

The chosen method to achieve this goal and to raise awareness among both the authorities and the general public about the tragic situation of the neighborhood was to paint both sides of the wall that separates it from the Bahlui River and the rest of the city. The murals feature images meant to spark reflection on social cohesion and tolerance. Originally built in the early 2000s as a flood barrier, the wall was erected in a manner neither elegant nor subtle, and it further hinders the already limited pedestrian access.

The project was implemented by four members of the Artipic Association, at a time when the association had not yet acquired legal status; thus, with the help of Moldavia Cultural Association, we received funding and implemented the project.