Artmagazin 2005 [antikvár]

1 'Hl I Artmagazin was launched back in 2003 with a view to discuss the key issues of fine and applied arts vis a vis the art trade and to help collectors and investors, public and private, find their ¦ bearings in the marketplace. We believe ^ that in spite of its past distortions Hungarian art and its market are alive and well; a continuity exists with the traditions and trends of the past; that Hungarian art has its place on the European art scene. However, a lot has yet to be done to represent Hungarian art in international private and public in accordance with its true qualities. One of the key themes of this magazine is to explore Hungary's former great art collections that are significant by international standards. The history of these collections can only be studied in the context of Hungary's 20th-century turbulent history, and their story was more often than not determined by politics, rather than economic processes and common sense. Van Gogh's Portrait of Laval is a case in point, with its story that might have been borrowed from a thriller, as is the rise and fall of Marcell Nemes's collection, unique by interna-, tional standards. Priorities in art collection were completely different during the Communist era. Ernő Kolozsvary, a former grammar school teacher who went on to become mayor of Győr in west Hungary after the country's political transformation, put together a collection that could never have been accomplished anywhere else. Hungary boasts a rich and powerful contemporary art scene. Presumably due to the past fifty years, it has still not entered everyday life. The present issue V introduces four of Hungary's most excit-i ing contemporary artists. Gábor Roskó employs the traditional means of painting in his works, and the philosophical themes of his drawings and paintings are deeply rooted in Hungary's recent past and present-day Hungarian reality. Based in BerUn, Hajnal Németh is into digital technology and is a regular guest |] of exhibitions in Hungary and abroadj with her digital graphic works, pho-i tographs and videos. András Braun developed his trademark style back in the nineties. An assembly of geometric forms and structures, his works feature bright, vibrating colours that radiate energy and dynamism. The Hungarian Pavilion at the Venice Biennial will this year host the works of Balázs Kicsiny. His installation explores the cultural relationship of a sea-less Central European country with navigation, trade, colonisation and migration. The post-Communist Hungarian art|| trade is merely fifteen years old; how ever, during this period turnover at auctions has increased thirtyfold. Also, the market has rapidly grown and a number of contemporary art galleries, art dealers and auction houses have emerged that will probably continue to play a significant role for many years to come. Also, the number of art lovers is on the! rise: major museum exhibitions attract hundreds of thousands. Hungary's market, too, has become strong; many a Hungarian-related painting and other work of art has made its return to Hungary even from the most powerful markets ofthe world. Indeed, Hungarian art and the art trade has reconnected to the international bloodstream. István Németh: From El Greco to Picasso Éva Nyerges: New exhibition of Old Spanish Masters in the Budapest Museum of Fine Arts Tünde Topor: Interview with László Baán, the new director of the Budapest Museum of Fine Arts Nóra Winkler: Interview with Sir David Viiilscn, the former director of the British Museum, London Tünde Topor: Gauguin in a box Peter Molnos: "I've enjoyed every minute of it" The KolozÁváiy Collection Gergely Barki: Matisse and the Hungarian Fauves Nóra Winkler: Interview with Lóránd Hegyi, the director of the Modern Museum, Naples Ágnes Berecz: A walk on the wide side János Szoboszlai: Optical stimulation The workjs ofAndrái Braun Barnabás Bencsik: Zero serie art objects The works of Antal Lakner Péter Fitz: An experiment in navigation Balázs Kicjsiny in Venice Zsolt Petrányi: A pop conscious analyst About Hajnal Németh 'j, work Yfifff nka