Art & Exhibitions

The Public Culture Secretariat, Cultural and Organisational Office of the University of Debrecen offers the final exhibitions of the autumn semester. In the Life Sciences Gallery (1 Egyetem Square, Life Sciences Centre) visitors can see the works of Lajos Ritók, a visual artist from Debrecen. The opening will take place on Saturday the 23rd of November at 3:00 p.m. in the Life Sciences Gallery. The exhibition will be opened by Sándor Pikó, painter. The contributing music performance is given by band, Trio Harmony. The exhibition is open until the 31st of  January 2025. In the Theoretical Gallery (98 Nagyerdei Blvd., Theoretical Block Hall) the exhibition of János Maksai, painter from Debrecen, entitled “70th - Selection from the studio” will be opened on Sunday, the 24th of  November, from 11.00 a.m. The opening speech will be given by Ferenc Vitéz, literary historian and poet with the participation of Arco Nobile String Quartet. The exhibition is open until the 31st of January 2025. Both events are free of charge. Date: 24 November - 31 January Locations:Life Sciences Gallery and Theoretical Gallery   Source:dehir.hu

On the 7th of  December from 5:00 p.m., the exhibition "Learning from nature? - Botany" opens in the Centre for Modern and Contemporary Art. Debrecen has occupied a special place in the history of Hungarian botany for centuries. With the Herbarium (1578) by Péter Juhász Méliusz and the two-volume Hungarian Herbarium (1807), the basic handbook of Sámuel Diószegi and Mihály Fazekas, the city has long been considered the Hungarian centre of botany and natural sciences. MODEM's latest exhibition builds on this diverse heritage, showcasing Debrecen's unique nature collections and attractions, such as the Debrecen Reformed College Museum, the University of Debrecen Botanical Garden and the Hortobágy National Park. "Learning from nature? - Botany” exhibition is a good example of everything we love about MODEM. The artworks on display were all created for the exhibition. They are the fruit of workshops, the joint thinking of several disciplines, the exchange of experiences between artists at the beginning of their careers and experienced artists, the result of collaboration between artists from Debrecen and from far away countries. On the other hand they are connected to the history and culture of Debrecen by a thousand threads, which, I am confident, will strengthen the position […]

Graphite, pastel, watercolour and oil: Péterné Szőnyi has experimented with many different techniques. She has been interested in drawing since childhood, but it is only in recent years that she has begun to take up the art of drawing more seriously. Her favourite subjects include the expression of emotions on faces, but she is also interested in landscapes and still lifes. She is currently training through the ValdorArt Alternative Drawing and Painting School's mentoring programme. She has participated in exhibitions, but this is her first solo show. This is also a novelty at the Csapókerti Community Centre, as it is only the second exhibition to feature the works of an amateur artist. Date: until 27 January Location: Csapókert Community Centre Source and photo credit: dehir.hu

A spectacular exhibition opens at the New Town Hall Gallery on Kálvint Square on the 16th of  January at 4:00 p.m. The exhibiting artists are illustrator and painter, winner of the 2024 Kölcsey Ferenc Fellowship, Alexandra Grela and visual artist, Ábel Kónya. One of the emblematic figures of Debrecen and Hungarian literary history is Magda Szabó, whose best-known novel is perhaps "Abigél", translated into several languages. In 2024, Alexandra Grela created a new cycle of images for this volume, which matches the style and approach of her literary illustrations of recent years. The technique of the works utilizes the artist's experience in the field of graphic design, while also relying on the drawing, collage and painting patterns characteristic of her earlier creative periods. The exhibition will be opened by Deputy Mayor, István Puskás with the participation of flustist, Hanna Jantyik. The exhibition is linked to the Hungarian Culture Day event and will be open until the 14th of February at the New Town Hall.   Date: 16 January - 14 February Location:New Town Hall   Source and photo credit:dehir.hu

The photo exhibition, entitled Carpathian Basin Costumes, of László Holló Prize-winning photographer Márta H. Csongrády will open on the occasion of the Day of Hungarian Culture  on Monday, the 20th of January, from 5:00 p.m. Márta H. Csongrády, photographer and visual artist, graduated as a museologist and ethnographer at the Kossuth Lajos University of Sciences. For thirty-five years she worked as a research associate at the Kenézy Gyula Hospital and Clinic. She founded the Kenézy Gallery and organised the Baby Gallery at the Children's Hospital of DOTE. Since 2003 she has been the director of the Vámospércs Women's Artists' Colony and the Hortobágy International Artists' Colony. The latter is now an association. She has exhibited her works in Debrecen's Japanese sister city Toyama and in exhibitions oraóganise by Toyama in Debrecen. She has participated in group exhibitions with Debrecen artists in China, Korea and Japan.  The exhibition will be opened by poet and journalist, Sándor Erdei with folk singer, Young Master of Folk Art Ildikó Bárdosi performing.   Date: 20 January - 7 February  during the opening hours of the community centre Location: DEMKI Újkert Community Centre Source:dehir.hu

The exhibition interprets the five books of Moses through the works of contemporary Hungarian artists from the perspective of the 21st century man. It aims to draw visitors' attention not only to the well-known scenes of the Old Testament, but also to their specific interpretations and topicalities. Four years ago, the exhibition “Evangelium  21” was presented at MODEM, highlighting twelve messages from the four Gospels of the New Testament. This is what exhibition “Origin”, which deals with the foundations of Christian and Jewish culture, now reflects on. The works are part of Levente Kovács' private collection. Similar to “Evangelium 21”, this time twelve artists, who have previously dealt with religious themes, were asked to realise the exhibition. The artists created their works in collaboration with theologian József Zsengellér, so the paintings, installations, graphics, animations and photographs came together to form a coordinated artistic ensemble. The pieces of the collection, in addition to their unique message, focus on modern man in the interpretation of archaic texts. Using contemporary artistic tools, they try to find an answer to how 21st-century man can be addressed through the birth of the world and the story of the first human couple, through sacrifices and moral […]