4 wonderful art exhibitions around the country

When people think of Pécs, culture comes to mind immediately. The beautiful city with its Mediterranean atmosphere is an ideal tourist destination in winter and summer. And the permanent Csontváry exhibition at the Janus Pannonius Museum is one of the top must-sees. Tivadar Csontváry-Kosztka was a true genius; his grandiose paintings were inspired by his travels in the Holy Land, Greece and elsewhere. One of the most famous of his works is the Lone Cedar, which can be seen in the exhibition. The adjective “lonely” also applies to the artist himself, since Csontváry was a late bloomer, only starting to create in his forties, and his work was only really recognised after his death. Since then, however, he has been regarded as one of the most characteristic Hungarian painters, and not without reason.

Békéscsaba played an important role in Mihály Munkácsy’s life, and it is no coincidence that most of the world-famous painter’s works can be seen here. The soon-to-be orphaned artist came to the city as a carpenter apprentice at the age of 7, but it was here that he learned the basics of painting, which he practiced professionally for the rest of his life. He is considered a romantic realist painter who studied and painted people with great care. He painted on large canvas, in rich detail. One of his most valuable works, the Weeping women at the foot of the cross, is among the paintings on display. In the Munkácsy Memorial House, next to the museum, you can see a further 21 works from the artist’s periods. There is also a wine tasting in the cellar of the house, and children can take part in museum pedagogical activities.

If you are also interested in the co-arts of painting, be sure to visit the Blue-Dyeing Museum in Pápa. The exhibition presents a special technique of Hungarian folk art, blue-dyeing. The works of textile art are not only visually stunning, but also culturally and historically significant. It is no coincidence that blue-dyeing is part of the world’s intellectual and cultural heritage and is on UNESCO’s representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In the museum, you can learn about the history and technique of blue-dyeing, the tools used to make it and the life of the Kluge family who set up the workshop. The family-friendly exhibition is a true nostalgia trip to the heyday of Hungarian folk culture, from which it is almost impossible to leave without a souvenir.

A must-see for fans of contemporary art is the exhibition at the MODEM Art Centre in Debrecen. In MODEM, you can see works by 20th century and contemporary Hungarian artists on more than 3000 square metres. In addition to the fine arts, the museum’s programme also includes a variety of other arts, including literary evenings, art history lectures, music programs, slam poetry and architecture shows. Previously exhibited works include works by artists such as Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, Vilmos Aba-Novák, Tivadar Csontváry-Kosztka, Margit Anna and Lajos Szalay. In the autumn of 2022, the Antal-Lusztig collection will be on display, featuring more than a hundred works by 20th century Hungarian masters. And just at the beginning of October, an exhibition entitled New Broadcasts opened, which brings visitors closer to the world of Internet aesthetics through the works of twelve contemporary artists and a group of four artists. An exciting, innovative exhibition, highly recommended for members of the millennial generation!