Szilágyi András (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 16. (Budapest, 1997)

Kiállítások, események 1995-96

DIARY OF EXHIBITIONS 1995-96 In comparison with earlier years, 1995 was especially rich in exhibitions of contemporary art, with numerous events being linked with the exhibitions. Of the exhibitions organized in 1994, the one presenting work by the interior designer Lajos Kozma, and the one displaying a selection from the Esterházy collection entitled Jewellery, Coins, Insignia remained open to the public in the first two months of 1995. Both exhibitions were linked with interesting events. To close the Kozma exhibition, a symposium was held. At this, leading experts on the work of the versatile artist - specialists such as Dr. Judith Koos, Dr. Katalin Gellért and Dr. Hilda Horváth - gave lectures. With regard to the Esterházy jewellery, two guided tours were advertised in advance. The first, "Engagement and Wedding Presents from the 16th and 17th Centuries", took place on January 28; the second, "Famous Men and Celebrated Events in Works of Numismatic Art from the 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries", was held on February 10. A visit to the exhibition featured as part of the programme of the Hungarian Art History Association, when a guided tour was given by Ildikó Pandúr and András Szilágyi, the exhibition's two organizers. On March 3 a number of specialists in the fields of applied arts and design - academics and practising artists alike - took part in the symposium held to sum up the experiences gained in the Craft Corner series over the past two years, and to examine the Museum's relationship with contemporary art. The symposium was opened by Dr. Zsuzsa Lovag, director-general of the Museum. After this, Márta Kovalovszky, who conducts research into contemporary art at the King Stephen the Saint Museum at Székesfehérvár, read out a thought-provoking paper. Those who commented unanimously stressed the importance of co-operation between the College of Applied Arts and the Museum, and also the importance of the systematic collection of contemporary art works. The publication brought out for the symposium contained papers by Zsuzsanna Lovay, Mihály Pohárnok and László Beke, together with a few words of evaluation concerning the exhibitions of the previous two years. On March 10, Árpád Göncz, President of the Republic of Hungary, and Martti Ahtisaari, President of the Republic of Finland, opened the Budapest Spring Festival, along with the VARDE exhibition brought into being as a result of an ecological project worked out jointly by the applied arts colleges of the Nordic countries. The next day Dr. Ferenc Müller, Deputy Rector of the College of Applied Arts, and Dr. Yrjö Sotamaa, Rector of the Helsinki College of Applied Arts, gave their speeches of welcome. The opening address of Dr. Ernő Rubik, titular professor, was followed by a fashion show put on by the Orlando Collection, formed by one-time students of the College of Applied Arts. The exhibits, which could be touched and even tried on, filled almost the entire area of the Museum: the hall on the ground floor, the exhibition areas