Hongaarse kunstexpositie op het water (en)

The ’Art on Lake’ exhibition is one of the most spectacular art events of the Hungarian EU presidency. Visitors are not squeezed within four walls but are free to wander around the Budapest City Park lake to view the display. All this is available to anyone till 4 September.

After three years of preparations and difficulties, the Hungarian Museum of Fine Arts could finally realize this unusual exhibition. The venue - this time provided by nature itself - allows room for 25 artworks, created by different artists from 14 EU countries. The best way to approach this unique display is by rowing boats available at the rental next to the water.

”The exhibition cost half-million euros, 80% of which was covered by the Hungarian State.”- László Baán, Chief Director of the Museum of Fine Arts told the press at the opening press conference. ”It is a playful exhibition, where some art pieces are easier to understand for the visitor while other ones hold more mysteries, but I believe that all of it will have a positive reception, because it brings art closer to the public.”

Director of the Kiscelli Museum, Péter Fitz, art historian and curator of the exhibition Krisztina Jerger, and independent curator Alexander Tolnay began making preparations for the exhibition in the summer of 2008. They invited artists whose works they knew would be in absolute harmony with each other and with nature. Péter Fitz said that the exhibition - apart from being a rare attraction - has a mission: it is a fact that in Hungary, due to political and social reasons, public space sculpture has for a time long been manifested in mere monuments. But these art pieces are real public space creations, which will foster a change of viewpoint in the public and will hopefully open the way for similar public space installations in the future. As it was announced at the press conference, one of the parttaking artists, Günter Uecker has donated his work for the Museum of Fine Arts.

The exhibition is indeed an extraordinary spectacle. A half-drowned house (by Tea Mäkipää), a snowman made from stones (a stoneman?) (by Daniel Knorr), a deer-shaped hedge (by Krištof Kintera) or a flowerbed (by Ilona Németh) can probably convey more layers of meaning standing on (and in) water than on the ground. Art and nature, built environment and the four elements complement each other here to fascinate the visitor.

Péter Barna

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