A state of respite Reflections on the past and present research into magical gems and ancient magic MúzeumCafé 31. author: Zoltán Horváth, archaeologist An international conference took place on 16-18 February this year at the Fine Arts Museum in Budapest under the title Magical Gems in their Context. The themes covered collecting magical gems, the history and trends of their scientific analysis, the concept of magic and the connections with organised religion. Participants included Árpád Miklós Nagy, head […]
What are the tasks facing ethnographic collections today and how can the results be presented in exhibitions in an up-to-date manner? MúzeumCafé 31. Zoltán Fejős, ethnographer, director of the Museum of Ethnography: The collections are varied, due partly to the type of institute and partly as a result of the history of scholarship and its legacy. There are also changes in the content of collections and the type of analysis, interpretation and display. In Hungary the focus has […]
From the primeval forest to the desert Problems and advantages – Museums in Mexico MúzeumCafé 31. author: Ágnes Bihari Problems and advantages – Museums in Mexico The National Museum of Anthropology and History in Mexico is justifiably considered to be one of the most important museums in the world, yet it is just one of more than 1100 museums which can be found in Mexico. There are many institutes which also carry the tile […]
“We had no plans but dreams” A publishing house, gallery and graphic art workshop from St. Gallen MúzeumCafé 30. author: Kinga Bódi, art historian, exhibition curator The Erker Publishing House, Gallery and Workshop was established after the Second World War by two young Swiss men, Franz Larese (1927–2000) and Jürg Janett (1927–). The complex with its exhibitions, publishing, graphic art workshop and events – authors’ meetings, readings and lectures – occupies a prominent place among west European contemporary art centres. The […]
The winner of this year’s Károly Pulszky Award is biologist Tímea Szalkai, director of the Danube Museum in Esztergom MúzeumCafé 30. author: Éva Marton After graduating in biology, Tímea Szalkai began working in Esztergom as a museum education specialist. She has been the director of the Hungarian Museum of Environmental Protection and Water Conservation (the Danube Museum) since 2007. From the love and knowledge of ecology and ethology what could be applied to museum education such that later, when […]
A concept only works when it is implemented An interview with Gábor Gulyás, new director of the Kunsthalle MúzeumCafé 30. author: Péter Hamvay Gábor Gulyás has replaced a third of the staff at the Kunsthalle in the nearly one and a half years since his appointment. The reasons include efficiency and different tasks. He has managed that without any finances for redundancy compensation. After minor renovation he would like to reinstitute the Ernst Museum on Budapest’s art map, […]
An hour away from Budapest Márta Kovalovszky and Péter Kovács on the exhibitions of the Székesfehérvár Museum MúzeumCafé 30. author: Emőke Gréczi The Székesfehérvár miracle didn’t attract the attention of the authorities for years. Who would have thought that hardly an hour away from the capital an art revolution was taking place whereby works of silenced artists were being exhibited, Hungarian art history was being reinterpreted and the best examples of forbidden or at most tolerated culture […]
The legacy of Balázs Orbán and the taste of Sekler Land Mineral Water and Spa Museum in Szejkefürdő MúzeumCafé 30. author: Zoltán Katona Both the past and present of Szejkefürdő (Seiche in Romania), near Székelyudvarhely (Odorheiu Secuiesc) are closely associated with the great Sekler writer, politician and scholar, Balázs Orbán, as is the flourishing of the former local bathing establishment. Four years ago the Haáz Rezső Museum in Odorheiu Secuiesc established a special ‘branch’ here – The Sekler […]
Museum in the heart of the town The Mosonmagyaróvár Hansági Museum MúzeumCafé 30. author: Nóra Vágvölgyi Busi Besides its fine and applied arts collections, the archaeological, local history, ethnographic and numismatic holdings of the 130-year-old Hansági Museum are also outstanding. The museum comprises two parts, the Cselley House and the classicist building of the institute itself. The former is the town’s oldest dwelling and is named after is last owner. Its history […]
A major part of the national identity The collection of the Academy of Sciences was based on public subscriptions and donations MúzeumCafé 30. author: Judit Jankó It is not well known that the third floor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences houses a picture gallery. In 1825 at a session of the Diet in Pozsony (today Bratislava) István Széchenyi offered a year’s income from his estates for the establishment of a Hungarian Scientific Society. The gesture created a wave of donations […]