National Bank of Hungary Exhibits Contemporary Art Collection in New York

An exhibition of pieces from the Hungarian National Bank (MNB) contemporary art collection opened in New York’s Arts District on Saturday and will be on display for a month.

The Fridman Gallery in Mannhattan is hosting the exhibition of Hungarian art entitled “Abstract Narratives,” which includes works by Zsófia Barabás, Márton Nemes, Judit Reigl, Róbert Batykó, István Felsmann, Erika Fábián, and Anthony Vasquesz.

At the opening ceremony, Barnabás Virág, Vice President of the MNB, pointed out that the Hungarian central bank – in line with the practice of other national banks – established its own contemporary art collection in 2020, which now consists of 1,400 pieces and includes works by renowned Hungarian artists. He said it was an important step to bring the selection to New York, after 14 cities in Europe and Asia had already been able to showcase key pieces.

At the opening ceremony, Kinga Hamvai, Artistic Director of the MNB Arts & Culture Collection, said that the collection brought to New York included works by artists from several generations. She explained that the MNB Arts & Culture aims to increase the visibility of Hungarian artists and the Hungarian art scene. She noted that in parallel with the exhibition in New York, they are also present in two cities in Turkey, Istanbul and Ankara, with a selection of works.

Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, Zsolt Petrányi, curator and deputy director-general of the Hungarian Museum of Fine Arts, said that the selection “tries to emphasize the uniqueness of Hungarian art in an international context by drawing attention to the personal motivations and technical innovations behind the paintings.” The specialist, who is also the head of the Hungarian National Gallery’s Contemporary Collection, added that the works on show also reflect the perceptions of different generations, which is important in the light of the new technology-based inspirations of the 21st century.

Csenge Palotai, Director of the Liszt Institute New York, as co-organizer, emphasized that the collaboration with MNB Arts & Culture and the creation of the exhibition is a milestone for the Hungarian Cultural Institute of New York. She also stressed that the selection includes works by Hungarian artists known and respected in the American metropolis.

FactThe aim of MNB Arts and Culture, which manages and takes care of the collection, is to make the collection accessible and meaningful to the public. Its goal is to make its material widely accessible and familiar to the general public, and researchable and processable for the profession, both on the domestic and international scene.

In line with the practices deployed in the case of the collections of international central banks and corporate institutions, a large part of the collection, nearly 700 works of art, is on display in the offices and common areas of the buildings used by the central bank. While in the Buda Center of the Hungarian National Bank, it is typically figurative or calligraphic work which is exhibited; in the Hungarian Money Museum and Visitor Center (the former Postal Palace), the selection represents the work of the Neo-Avant-Garde generation and the tendencies of Geometric Abstraction.

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Via MTI; Featured Image: Pixabay

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