Where and how could the oeuvreof Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka be shown in a deserving way?
József Sárkány Art historian, Janus Pannonius Museum, Pécs: Where? Of course in Pécs. At that time the paintings were threatened with complete destruction due to their inappropriate treatment. Is it really only being exhibited in the capital that would authenticate Csontváry’s universal art? Surely, the relocation of the nine hole bridge in Hortobágy to the Danube in order to increase the number of visitors would not be fortunate. I rather agree with Loránd Bereczky’s concise appraisal: “It was a great mistake to take the Csontváry paintings to Pécs, but not to leave them there would be an even greater one.”
Tamás Kieselbach Art historian, Kieselbach Gallery and Auction House: The legal position of the paintings and drawings in the Pécs Csontváry Museum is clear – the most important works, including the large-size paintings, are in the ownership of the Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest. Csontváry’s will is beyond dispute. He wanted to exhibit his works in a separate building in Budapest. Gedeon Gerlóczy designed Csontváry’s museum for a location in Budapest. Everyone knows that the painter’s oeuvre is not somewhere it deserves. This is not only about Pécs and Csontváry, but Hungary and Hungarian art. A new era is needed in Hungarian art, so that decisions are made corresponding to a conscious strategy. A new, independent Csontváry Museum in Budapest could be a key moment in this process.
Gábor Gulyás Director of MODEM, Modern and Contemporary Art Centre, Debrecen: The Csontváry Museum in Pécs is not a considerable tourist attraction. Yet cultural decentralisation is the common interest of both the provinces and the capital – moving the museum to Budapest and returning the National Gallery’s deposit would obviously weaken the position of Pécs, though it should rather be strengthened.It would make sense to show Csontváry’s work at high-quality, temporary exhibitions outside Pécs, in Hungary and abroad, since they would also make the hopefully renewed museum more attractive. We would like to see such a retrospective exhibition in MODEM.
György Szücs Art historian, deputy director of the Hungarian National Gallery: It would be easy to imagine a high-ceilinged, sunny, modern building on the side of Castle Hill with ‘painter and pharmacist’ Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka’s monumental paintings in its centre. We Hungarians are under the illusion that foreigners instantly become sentimental enthusiasts by seeing Hungarian works of art. Another vision appears alongside the Csontváry complex in Buda – assuming a strong cultural network were to be created in Hungary. It would be linked by motorways and railroads and it would present no problem to reach several places even in a day. This network would be supplemented with Vienna, Bratislava, Košice, Oradea and Subotica beyond Hungary’s borders. Thus we would not shut ourselves in the capital and within the country. Such a network used to exist and will again in the future. I’d rather vote for this.