Art & Exhibitions

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

In 2024, the Debrecen Association for Nature Conservation and Culture held the award ceremony of the now traditional 9th Nature Conservation, Literature, Poetry, Prose, Story and Nature Photography Contest in Budapest. The event was attended by prize-winning students from all over the country and beyond its borders. On the occasion of the Day of Hungarian Culture, the public is invited to the presentation of the book "Walking in the Forest, Green Fields" and the photo exhibition illustrating the book. The exhibition will be opened by President of the Debrecen Association for the Great Forest of Debrecen,Ibolya Marincsák on Monday the 20th of  January at 5:00 p.m. in Gallery 21. More information about the event can be found at this link.   Date: 20 January Location: Gallery 21   Source and photo credit:dehir.hu  

A drama with English subtitles awaits the audience on the 31st of January at the Csokonai National Theatre. Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, responded to the social changes in his native country in the final third of the 1800s by declaring, "We are all nihilists." In this instance, however, the term "nihilist" refers to a uniquely Russian phenomenon, the revolutionary movement of the "sons" who, by critical analysis, rejected the traditions of the "fathers" generation, rather than the Nietzschean metaphysical negation. For instance, similar to the author's own ventures, Macedonian filmmaker Dejan Projkovski's investigation of the human soul begins with the movement portrayed by the "gang of five" in one of his major novels, “Demons”. Projkovski is curious as to how plucking specific strings within a person can transform them from an "angel" into a "demon," just as sacred music can differentiate between the angelic and the demonic by a quarter tone. He looks into how a movement that started out with the intention of bettering society could turn its members into ruthless murderers who devour themselves and their beliefs by misinterpreting the guiding principles. Projkovski portrays the question of whether there is a way out of this mental state and whether […]

Jacques Audiard's new film is a crazy gangster-musical about passion and self-identity, starring Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldana. Movie "Emilia Pérez" premieres at the 14th Mozinet Film Festival at Apollo Cinema on the 7th of February from 6:00 p.m. Tickets are now on sale. The screening will be followed by a talk and discussion with Anna Váró Kata, university lecturer, film aesthete and permanent host of the film club. About the film: Rita (Zoe Saldana - Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy), an overqualified Mexican lawyer working for a big firm, receives a surprising offer from the feared leader of a local cartel, Manitas (Karla Sofía Gascón). She asks him to help her close her dubious cases so that she can retire and become the woman she always wanted to be. A regular at the Cannes International Film Festival and winner of the Palme d'Or (Dheepan - The Story of a Refugee) and the Jury Prize (The Prophet), Jacques Audiard's most surprising film to date is at once a ruthless gangster film, a mad comedy and an extravagant musical. The movie “Emilia Pérez” once again won Audiard the Jury Prize, while Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz […]

 Gradient Contemporary Ballet  awaits dance and art enthusiasts for their new performance in February. The new piece, "Reverie" with its premiere on the 7th of Friday, will offer a special experience for the audience. About the performance: The French word "Reverie," which denotes a dreamy, introspective, or contemplative state, is where the evening gets its name. The program, which consists of two pieces, transports viewers to the realm of dreams and desires, where the dancers delve into the depths of human existence. First Act: Sirius The poem From Soul to Soul by Árpád Tóth, which uses the metaphor of the great distances between stars to illustrate the difficulties of connection, served as the inspiration for the composition Sirius.  Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky and a symbol of both hope and the mystery of the far unknown, is mentioned in the title. In an attempt to find the answer to Tóth's moving query, "Is it Sirius that lies farther from me, or a companion—oh, who can tell?" The work explores the difficulties of overcoming distances as well as the contrasts between light and darkness. Music: Erkki-Sven Tüür, The Winged Victory for the Sullen   Act Two: Fine Day […]

The Modem Centre for Modern and Contemporary Art invites the public to the opening of the exhibition, "Origin" on Saturday the 8th of February at 4:00 p.m. 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 […]

We are all familiar with the tale of the impoverished orphan kid from the beloved book by Charles Dickens. Lionel Bart's fantastic production transports audiences to 19th-century London and brings the fascinating exploits of Oliver Twist to life as a musical. As viewers follow Oliver's journey from the orphanage to a gang, where young troublemakers persuade him to participate in robberies, his troubled life finally takes a turn for the better as he grows up in the turbulent world of Victorian England. Oliver eventually becomes a sensible child who finds peace in orderly conditions. Director of the musical is Tünde Tóth. Tickets can be purchased via this link   Date: 8 February, 7.00 p.m. Location: Csokonai National Theatre Source:csokonaiszinhaz.hu/en/ Photo credit:dehir.hu

On the 8th of January, Elvis Aaron Presley, the singer, musician and actor considered the king of rock and roll, would have celebrated his 90th birthday. To mark the occasion, DEMKI Józsa Community Centre is organising an exhibition of Gábor Szilágyi's collection. The collector said he had idolized the icon, who lived only forty-two years, for nearly five decades. Ever since Gábor Szilágyi fell in love with Presley's music, he has been fanatically collecting all relics related to the singer and singing his songs. He emphasised that he wants to present the king of rock and roll to the public from a lesser-known side, and at the beginning of his fandom, the hunt for Elvis relics was particularly difficult. “When I fell in love with his music, it was still difficult to acquire anything about him, but the joy of waiting made the time spent on this worthwhile. I also want to introduce the artist and the musician at exhibitions and during my singing evenings, but I would rather have interested parties get to know Elvis as a generous, deeply feeling person,” he said. The vinyl records, CDs, posters, advertising materials and other relics acquired by Gábor Szilágyi are also […]

Butterflies take centre stage in the new exhibition of Természettár (Debrecen-based amateur nature conservation group). Colourful creatures that have conquered the air, flying from flower to flower, in meadows, forests and urban parks. Visitors can take a peek into their peculiar lives and development, and even find out what can be  done to protect them. All nature lovers are welcome to discover the wonderful world of butterflies together. The exhibition will open on the 12th of February  at 2:00 p.m. Organisers are looking forward to welcoming all interested parties.   Date: 12-26 February Location: Méliusz Library Source:debrecen.imami.hu