WHAT IS HUNGARIAN?, 2012

Artwork: Attila now
Artist: Norbert Kotormán, Gergő Kovách, Barna Péli

The curator of the exhibition portraying the theme of national identity, Gábor Gulyás, has selected works from an unprecedented number—more than fifty—contemporary artists for the exhibition, from the most diverse genres.
The vast majority of the works were created in the past few years, but the audience will also encounter numerous new pieces. This special exhibition joins a discourse that has been ongoing for nearly two centuries, previously taking place mainly in expository prose, literature, architecture, and music—this will be the first undertaking to present the theme of national identity comprehensively in the medium of contemporary fine arts. The exhibition starts from the premise that artistic reflections on national existence are particularly relevant in the new perspectives opened by the European Union and globalization. At the exhibition, we will not see artistic illustrations of the classical question of national identity and national destiny, but rather get a picture of how answers to this appear in contemporary fine arts.
What is Hungarian now, in 2012? How does the legacy of Kádárism define our thinking today?
Which stereotypes of the Hungarian character are being passed down?
What social roles and patterns do we follow?
What kind of trenches run through society, why can't we stop the meaningless static war?
And last but not least: how and from what is our national identity built?

Curator: Gábor Gulyás