An exhibition of works by twenty-five modern and contemporary Hungarian and foreign artists will be on display from Tuesday at the Hungarian Art & Business (HAB) center in Budapest.
The exhibition, entitled “New Beginnings – Great works from twenty-five emerging artists,” open until April 7, presents a selection from the Antal-Lusztig Collection.
Péter Antal’s collection is based in Debrecen (eastern Hungary). It was started by his grandfather, Samuel Lusztig, and then taken further and moved in a more progressive, 20th-21st century direction by Antal.
The collection now numbers several thousand works and has been shown in several exhibitions abroad,
said Délia Vékony, artistic director of the HAB.
The curator is art historian Gábor Gulyás, who has selected works from the collection by artists who have created a new era and become canon makers in the visual arts.
The concept of the exhibition is rebirth and renewal.
Vékony pointed out that the exhibition includes a large-scale painting from the 1960s, by the innovator of abstract art, Simon Hantai. In addition, visitors can see one of Judit Reigl’s most famous series, “Mass Writing,” a painting by British artist Damien Hirst, “Helter Skelter,” evoking the rotating Earth and the movement of the stars, referring to the eternal cycle of life and death, she explained.
Délia Vékony. In the background paintings by Judit Reigl and Simon Hantai (L-R). Photo via MTI/Hegedüs Róbert
The exhibition includes one monochrome painting each by the world-famous contemporary German artist Gerhard Richter and Kyrgyzstan-born painter Serge Poliakoff, two figurative paintings by László Moholy-Nagy, a large geometric abstract painting by Dóra Maurer, and one by Ilona Keserü.
László Moholy-Nagy: “Female portrait.” Photo via MTI/Hegedüs Róbert
The artistic director said that the Antal-Lusztig Collection includes six works by Csontváry, of which the exhibition shows the painting “Afternoon storm in Trau,” which despite its small size, is considered one of the most important works by the painter. In terms of color scheme and elaboration, it is a painting with many shades of blue.
The Little Warsaw group’s (Bálint Havas, András Gálik) work depicts 12 adolescent boys standing next to each other. The children’s hairstyles and clothing evoke the world of the ’80s, their eyes are closed, but their faces and postures are different for each, noted the HAB artistic director.
Little Warsaw: “Feature” (Tulajdonság). Photo via MTI/Hegedüs Róbert
The exhibition, which is free to visit, will be accompanied by guided tours: on February 1, the curator, Gábor Gulyás, will guide the visitors.
Fact
HAB opened its doors on Andrássy Avenue last June with the support of the MBH Bank Art Foundation. In addition to the exhibition space, the multifunctional art center also houses a graphic design studio, a 100-square-meter creative space, a shop, and a residence upstairs, where foreign and Hungarian artists are expected to be hosted. A sculpture park is located in the garden.
Via MTI; Featured image via MTI/Hegedüs Róbert
