As always, the country’s cultural scene is buzzing, and several exhibitions will be on display in the coming months that are worth a visit. I’ve hand-picked my favourites from Jegy.hu and various museum websites to give you some tips for planning your next trip. To make things easier, you can get a student discount on ticket prices at every venue listed below.
- International
At the Combined Regional Centre of Arts (REÖK) in Szeged, you can visit the ArtColony Cered exhibition until 15 February. Featuring works by both international and Hungarian artists, the exhibition offers an overview of the 30-year history of the artist colony operating in Cered. If you’re interested in works by contemporary international artists, this venue is definitely worth a visit.
2. Folk Art
For those who enjoy Hungarian folk art, the coming months have some exciting events in store. For instance, you can visit the exhibition titled Free to Lather – The Cultural History of Cleanliness (Szabad szappanozni – A tisztaság kultúrtörténete) at the Hungarian Heritage House in Budapest. This folk art exhibition, organised by students from MOME (Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design), focuses on the theme of personal hygiene, presenting past hygiene habits through a variety of everyday objects. It is open from 11 February to 30 November, but several other exhibitions will be running in parallel at the museum during this period.
3. Contemporary
If your travels take you to Debrecen in the coming months, the MODEM Center for Modern and Contemporary Art is definitely worth a visit – both now and in the future. Until 15 February, you can catch two exhibitions: Salt, Steam, Skin – Notes from Below, which, according to the website, is an “interdisciplinary installation” exploring geography through the lives of miners. Bodies and Memories – Figurative Artworks from the Antal-Lusztig Collection, which dives into Hungary’s post-war figurative art scene through the couple’s private collection, whose names give the collection its title. As a major bonus (in huge parentheses), MODEM provides an autism-friendly environment, ensuring that visitors with higher sensory sensitivities can also fully enjoy the experience.
4. Fashion
The country holds surprises for fashion lovers as well. In Balatonfüred, at the Katti Zoób Fashion & Museum, there are currently two exhibitions on offer. One is LACE / SILENCE / TIME – The Art of Patience (CSIPKE / CSEND / IDŐ – A türelem művészete), where, lace is guaranteed in abundance, in every shape and pattern imaginable. The other exhibition, SHARED – A Future Woven from the Past (KÖZÖS – Múltból szőtt jövő), can be seen at Esterházy Palace in Fertőd. This collection is displayed on garments that combine elements borrowed and transformed from various different cultures.
5. Something Close By
At the Janus Pannonius Museum, the exhibition titled A Female Painter in Pécs – Věra Jičinská (1898–1961) is on display until 12 April. The artist blended elements of Purism and Analytical Cubism in her work, frequently featuring female figures. There is a local connection, too: in the early 1930s, her father was the director of the mine in Pécs, so Jičinská visited the city often. Students and employees of the University of Pécs get an extra discount at the gallery.
6. Lights
Last but not least, if you’re looking for entertainment that’s a bit less serious, you can find light parks all across the country until 1 February. For example, you can see illuminated figures in Pécs, Zalaegerszeg, Gödöllő, and Szeged, which are well worth exploring with family or friends. Pro tip: tickets are cheaper on weekdays. 😉
