Kovács opened the Kogart House ? the name comes from Kovács Gábor Arts Foundation ? in 2004 to organise contemporary art exhibitions, build a collection of important 21st century art and foster contact between artists and their audience. The venue, located in a renovated villa on Budapest?s historic Andrássy Street, also serves as a home for Kovács?s private collection of Hungarian masterworks. But art is not all the Kogart House is about. The building houses a restaurant and café offering a range of light and healthy culinary specialties.
Kovács was one of the first serious art collectors in post-communist Hungary. The first paintings he bought were for the offices of holding company Bankár, which he heads. He started out buying 19th century paintings, then those from the Nagybánya school, followed by 18th century paintings. Kovács is still an avid collector of Hungarian art, but he leaves purchases of contemporary Hungarian art to the foundation.
The paintings have proved to be excellent investments, but the real reason for buying them is a passion for collecting, Kovács says. For this reason, he has difficulty naming a favourite in his collection. Some of the most valuable works in the collection are by Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka, Mihály Munkácsy and Lajos Gulácsy, he notes.
Among the most important contemporary artists the Kogart House has organised exhibitions for are Tibor Csernus, László Fehér, Tamás Hencze, the US painter Dennis Oppenheim, and tapestry artist Zsuzsa Péreli, Kovács said. He added that the foundation?s activities have helped to shape public taste.
Kovács has not only influenced Hungarians? views of contemporary art, he has inspired a number of his friends to start collecting art.
Kovács said the Kogart House has no special events planned to celebrate its 2nd anniversary.
Source: Hungarian New Agency (MTI)
