Szilágyi András (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 27. (Budapest, 2009)
Events 2008
MUSEUM OF APPLIED ARTS EVENTS 2008 During 2008, in addition to long-term exhibitions opened during the previous years - Collectors and Treasures, Treasures of the Esterházy Princes and Ottoman Turkish Carpets - further major exhibitions were staged, including historical ones as well as others with a focus on contemporary crafts and design, including individual and group exhibitions, displaying new works or the complete life work of artists and designers. The first exhibition of the year reflected on an important anniversary: in 1907, amateur' Hungarian collectors put their prized treasures on display in the central hall of the Museum of Applied Arts. Recognizing the fact that the passion of collecting lives on a century later as well - in fact, it gained a new impetus during the last years - the museum organized a major survey of Hungarian private collections, upon the recommendation of art historian Magdolna Lichner. The exhibition, titled The Noble Passion of Collecting. Art Works from Hungarian Private Collections was organized by Hilda Horváth. It provided not only an overview of the state of collecting in the field of decorative and eastern arts, but also provided a chronological, art historical survey through objects stemming from the Middle Ages to the present day. About 600 works from 65 collections were on display from January 22 to April 20, all of which were illustrated in the 250 page, bilingual catalogue of the exhibition, which was edited by Magdolna Lichner. The exhibition was opened by Szilveszter Vizi E„ president of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Parallel to this exhibition, the fan-collection of Gréti Hollóházy Marton was shown in the so-called Collectors' showcases on the first floor. On February 29, the joint exhibition of the grant holders of the Lajos Kozma craft grant and of the László Moholy-Nagy design grant was opened, with a welcoming speech by director Zsuzsanna Renner and by Miklós Bendzsel, president of the Hungarian Design Council. Márta Schneider, state secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Education gave an opening speech. The exhibition, which was organized by the Hungarian Design Council - and coordinated in-house by Gábor Major -, was on view until March 16. The Ministry of Culture and Education declared 2008 the Renaissance Year, to commemorate the 550 t h anniversary of the ascension of King Matthias to the Hungarian throne. A series of exhibitions and other events were held all over the country. Four museums in Budapest - the Hungarian National Gallery, the National Széchényi Library, the Budapest History Museum and the Museum of Applied Arts - prepared a related series of exhibitions, titled 4x on the Renaissance, to explore Renaissance art and culture in Hungary. The exhibition of the Museum of Applied Arts, titled The Dowry of Beatrice. Italian Majolica Art and the Court of King Matthias aimed to survey the 185
