It doesn’t always kill you, but it always hurts. And still you’ve got to “roll with the punches” and keep going. I find this ability to roll with the punches, to “take the pain” and adapt to circumstances, in my subjects: gypsies, beggars, crooks, vagabonds, underdogs, conmen, buskers and various shady characters in Romania and Moldova.
My object is not to exploit problem-ridden post-communist Romania for voyeuristic purposes. I’m not an indifferent observer, but one who tries hard to give these people the freedom they need to portray themselves on camera—and to bring about necessary changes for themselves in the social stereotypes still assigned to them.
Mihai Barabancea
By The Way
“Honey Radar is an exceptional avant-pop band, currently based in Philadelphia, helmed by guitarist Jason Henn. This compilation pulls together material recorded for singles on Chunklet Industries, the Atlanta label run by Henry Owings.” Byron Coley (American music critic)
