There is a beautiful photography exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. Ok, probably I am overexcited as it is a Hungarian photography exhibition but it is really – really beautiful. 

I had a conversation about it with my former boss in London and actually she said that she knows these photographers but never realised that they were all Hungarians. Well, I think this is the case for a lot of people all over the world: everyone is familiar with the works of Robert Capa, Andre Kertesz, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Martin Munkacsi or Brassai just to mention the biggest names… They all left Hungary and made their names abroad: in France, Germany or even in the USA. The exhibition also shows works by photographers who stayed in Hungary so you really have a great overview of the Magyar style of photography – and what happened in Hungary at that time.
The 200 photographs cover the most important historical events, developments in photography between 1914 and 1989 that was a significant year from Hungary with the ending of the communism.

I visited the exhibition in the morning just after opening time and it was busy right from the opening of the doors. I can tell you I felt very proud while being there and listening to people’s conversations about the photograph they were looking at.
The picture which was selected to advertise the show is one of my favourites. It is by Martin Munkacsi (Nude in Staw Hat, 1944) and as it says it is a nude photograph. I like it because it is so elegant, natural and relaxed at the same time.

I was also very happy to see there photographs by Peter Korniss who is an amazing artist and he is one of the teachers at the photography course I am starting in September. Lucky!

Eyewitness - Hungarian Photography in the 20th Century.
Royal Academy of Arts, London, photo by Török Viktória



Royal Academy of Arts by Török Viktória

After last year’s Treasures from Budapest exhibition this summer Hungarians will take over the Royal Academy of Arts in London again.  I love going to the Royal Academy, the building is amazing and you can feel the history inside while walking up the step. They have a superb bookstore and gift shop – even selling china decorated with Tracey Emin’s drawings. (I picked her as she is one of my favourites). Books are great and their Christmas cards are beautiful. Actually the Treasures from Budapest exhibition catalogue you can buy here in Budapest in the bookshop of the Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum).

To celebrate the European Presidency of Hungary there will be a Hungarian Photography Exhibition – opening end of June. Artists like Brassaï, Munkacsi, Moholy-Nagy, Kertesz and Capa – all in one place. There will be pictures from war to Hollywood film stars and pictures which capture the period of economic and social change in Hungary and Europe between 1914 and 1989.

Almost two years ago there was a Robert Capa exhibition in Budapest in the Ludwig Museum.  Capa who is considered to be the greatest war photographer ever was born in Budapest in 1913. After leaving Hungary he had an amazing life travelling around the world, living in hotels, and having friends like Ernest Hemingway or Pablo Picasso and a love affair with Ingrid Bergman.