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| Photograph by Gyorgy Toth - Erdesz Gallery, Szentendre, Hungary |
Art Market Budapest´s (AMB 2011) first international art fair opened today (27 October) showcasing 32 Hungarian and 10 international galleries at at the city´s Millenaris Park.
Admission is free. There is no government funding. This is a for-profit happening.
Admission is free. There is no government funding. This is a for-profit happening.
“We´re really satisfied with this year´s fair, our first international one after last year´s pilot edition,” said international relations manager Dr. Zoltan Somhegyi, an independent curator and university lecturer-art historian, AMB 2011's international relations manager.
The contemporary art fair will include a range of installations, 2D and 3D works as well as a number of group and solo projects, Somhegyi told me in a phone interview.
Many of the sculptures will show in a special sculpture garden adjacent Hall B, the main exhibition space at Millenaris Park.
“It´s a real great achievement in this time of crisis, and I am particularly happy with a huge 25 percent from outside Hungary.”
“It´s a real great achievement in this time of crisis, and I am particularly happy with a huge 25 percent from outside Hungary.”
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| "Lenin" by Sam Havadtoy B55 Galeria |
Galleries from London, Austria, Romania, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia join the Hungarian galleries, all but three from Budapest.
Another feature: The Hungarian Museum of Photography presents part of its vast collection, plus fine art photography from participating galleries and the Moholy-Nagy University of Art & Design.
One of wow-factor artists showing and visiting the fair: Oleg Kulik, who according to AMB´s 20 October news release, "became world famous by his scandalous performances and video arts...."
More than 20 arts groups will occupy smaller booths--publishers, magazines, promotions.
One of the first Hungarian galleries to register is the internationally known Erdesz Galeria & Design in Szentendre, about 20 kilometers north of Budapest.
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| Millenaris Park, site of Art Market Budapest 2911 |
I wrote about this gallery and its artists before and after its 8 July opening of contemporary artists while living in Hungary for six weeks this summer.
The Art Market Budapest 2011 jury includes: Soraya von Studenberg, advisor to Sotheby´s and Uniqua; Flash Art Magazine editor and Prague Biennale curator, Nicola Trezzi; Lorand Hegyi, director of Sant Étienne´s Museum of Modern Art, and Gabor Gulyas, director of Budapest´s Mucsarnok-Kunsthalle.
Somhegyi, curator for one of two featured Roma contemporary art exhibits--Roma Art Project--said his will display Roma works from private collections, the other, works from a Budapest gallery specializing in Roma art.
Panel discussions are also scheduled on Roma contemporary art.
The story behind AMB 2011
Art Market Budapest 2011 succeeds a pilot endeavor launched in only six weeks last year in a new and vacant office complex.
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| Work by Yan Yeresko - Ari Kupsus Galelry |
Somhegyi said at the end of August 2010, a colleague of his received a call that an ideal space to show contemporary was available for free.
Could they quickly put up an art fair of new and emerging contemporary artists?
Why not?
In six weeks, 12 to 14 Hungarian galleries exhibited contemporary works.
“It was our pilot edition,” said Somhegyi.
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| A work by Tamas Dobos, courtesty of Erdesz Galeria & Design, Szentendre |
As soon as the pilot ended, the international version entered planning stages, which picked up speed in March.
Serving as the fair´s patron, former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, Nancy G. Brinker, provides high profile coupled with many international art connections.
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| Nancy G. Brinker, patron for Art Market Budapest 2011 |
Brinker collects Hungarian art.
Another feature of the fair is the role of the non-profit cultural engine based in Budapest, Igor Metropol.
It plans to show small format works (10 cm x 10 cm or 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm for 3D) within an architecturally designed display for 17 art works, said Igor Metropol co-curator Nora Lukacs. Her partner in this effort is Katja Melzer.
Igor Metropol and UAA (Association of Anonymous Artists, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina (www.uaa.rs.ba/) cooperated in promoting this project.
The cultural non-profit will take 30 percent commission on all sales.
The prices submitting artists put on their works so far range from 50 -- 900 Euros, she said.
Rock on and practice peace and love.
Stefan, the ArtTraveler
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| Work by Jan Eugen Vasile - Calina Gallery |
ArtTraveler notes:
After living at the Hotel Queen Mary in Budapest (3.5 stars), I heartily recommend it: old on the outside, otherwise totally modern (23 rooms);
The owner and staff are affable and speak English and German. Tel: 0036-1-413-3510; www.hotelqueenmary.hu; info@hotelqueenmary.hu.
Check out a sculpture or mosaics workshop or walking tour in our beautiful mountains.
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| "Walking the Walk," near Canillas de Albaida, Andalusia Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2007) |
Contact me at stefanvandrake@gmail.com or by calling (34) 951 067 703; from the UK at BT landline rates, 0844 774 8349.
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| "BUDA" Photograph by Matthew Z. Zomick (2011) |
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