The exhibition, entitled ?Re:mbrandt ? Contemporary Hungarian Artists Answer?, coincides with another of exhibition at the museum of 170 of Rembrandt?s drawings and etchings, organised to mark the 400th anniversary of the Dutch master?s birth.
The artists participating in the exhibition were asked to answer why Rembrandt?s works still retain such power today.
András Rényi, the exhibition?s curator, offers one answer: ?His pictures provoke, they challenge the viewer, not allowing an escape into the world of sentimentality, as in the 19th century, because they are challenging, violent, extremely critical: his works draw the viewer into an uncomfortable position.?
The Hungarian artists in the show take on the task of interpreting the influence of Rembrandt?s works today in varied ways. Among the exhibitors are painters ? Bak Imre, Ilona Keserű, István Nádler and El Kazovszkij; graphic artists, such as István Orosz; and sculptors ? Gyula Pauer and György Jovánovics. Video installations will be shown by János Szirtes and Péter Forgács; Zoltán Szegedi-Maszák will show an interactive digital piece; Bazil Duliskovits has produced three peekhole boxes containing secret images; and Sándor Rácz Molnár and Péter Lajtai Langer have created gigantic digital prints.
Rényi noted that the suggestion for the exhibition was first raised by Balkon, a journal of contemporary arts. The Museum of Fine Arts welcomed the concept and agreed to sponsor it as well, he added.
Re:mbrandt
Contemporary Hungarian Artists Answer
July 6 ? September 25
Museum of Fine Arts
ANNIVERSARY
The world is celebrating this year the 400th anniversary of the birth of Rembrandt, an artist without whom there would be no European identity, without whom one could not imagine modern culture.
THE EXHIBITION?S ORGANISERS
Working together to create a concept which maps the effect of Rembrandt?s works are Dr. Rényi András Ph.D., a docent at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) Arts and Media Research Institute, working together with Rembrandt experts László Beke, an art historian and the head of the Hungarian Academy of Science?s (MTA) Art History Research Institute; Judit Geskó, art historian and one of the heads of the Museum of Fine Arts? Graphics Department; István Hajdu, art historian and the editor-in-chief of the Balkon Journal of Contemporary Arts; Krisztina Jerger, art historian and deputy director of the Hungarian Institute in Warsaw; and József Készman, art historian and head of the exhibitions department at the Műcsarnok, an exhibition space across the square from the Museum of Fine Arts.
AIM OF THE EXHIBITION
Rembrandt has, for centuries, inspired Hungarian culture as well as many other cultures. His influence can be seen in literature, visual arts and even film. He is Europe?s most influential artist. The exhibition aims to show Rembrandt?s influence on Hungary?s contemporary cultural life.
EXHIBITORS
Nineteen well-known Hungarin artists have been invited to participate in the exhibition. They will show works never before seen in public.
VENUE
After being approached by the organisers, the Museum of Fine Arts agreed to provide its facilities for the exhibition?s realisation and later decided to provide financial sponsorship.
SPONSORS
The Embassy of the Netherlands
Magyar Turizmus
The National Cultural Programme
The Ministry of Education and Culture
The Local Council of the City of Budapest, Commission for Trade and Tourism
Heineken
