An exhibition showcasing pieces from the Hungarian National Bank’s contemporary art collection opened in New York’s art district on Saturday and will run for a month.
Hosted at Manhattan’s Fridman Gallery, the exhibition titled Abstract Narratives features works from Hungarian artists including Zsófia Barabás, Márton Nemes, Judit Reigl, Róbert Batykó, István Felsmann, Erika Fábián, and Anthony Vasquez.
At the opening even Barnabás Virág, Deputy Governor of the Hungarian National Bank recalled that they established the contemporary art collection in 2020, which now comprises 1,400 pieces, including works by internationally renowned Hungarian artists. He emphasized that bringing this collection to New York was a significant milestone after similar exhibitions had already taken place in 14 cities across Europe and Asia.
Kinga Hamvai, artistic director of the Hungarian National Bank’s contemporary art collection (MNB Arts & Culture), explained that the collection featured in New York spans several generations of artists. She pointed out that one of the main goals of MNB Arts & Culture is to enhance the visibility of Hungarian artists and the domestic art scene, noting that at the same time as the New York exhibition, other selections were also being showcased in Istanbul and Ankara.
‘The collection featured in New York spans several generations of artists’
Zsolt Petrányi, the curator of the exhibition and Head of Contemporary Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, described the selection as an attempt to highlight the uniqueness of Hungarian art within an international context, drawing attention to the personal motivations and technical innovations behind the paintings. As the head of the Hungarian National Gallery’s Contemporary Collection, he added that the exhibited works reflect the diverse perspectives of various generations, which is significant in the light of 21st-century technology-driven inspirations.
Csenge Palotai, director of the Liszt Institute New York, a co-organizer of the exhibition, highlighted the importance of this collaboration with MNB Arts & Culture. She also noted that the selection includes works by Hungarian artists well known and respected in the American metropolis.
The Fridman Gallery in Manhattan will host the exhibition of Hungarian contemporary art for a month. On 12 November Zsófia Barabás, one of the featured artists, will give a personal tour titled ‘Artist Talk’, and the Liszt Institute New York will also organize several guided tours during the exhibition.
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