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What do we learn about art as such once we leave the realm of representation? What meanings does abstraction bring and what does it communicate? What is the relationship between the geometric and organic principles of design and what is the place of abstraction in the context of the relationship between fine and applied arts? The celebration of the 145th anniversary of the Museum of Arts and Crafts (MUO) is a convenient moment to re-examine some fundamental questions about the nature of art, its movement, purpose, and role in the lives of individuals and communities.

Questions like these invite us to go back to the basics of thinking about images and visuality and encourage us to re-examine canonical works, to which our eyes have become so accustomed, through contemporary understandings of visual art. The works we present at the In the Everlasting Flux exhibition belong precisely to this circle – they are a selection of the best achievements of modern and contemporary art from the MUO collections, both fine and applied, which, in conjuction with the Croatian Statehood Day celebration organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Hungary, can now be viewed in HAB.

Objects gathered from the collections of painting, sculpture, graphics, recent photography, graphic design and metal as well as glass, textiles and ceramics, created from the second half of the 20th century to the first decades of the 21st century, offer one possible reading of the development of certain trends in modern and contemporary art in Croatia. What connects them is the poetics of geometric and organic abstraction, which pose the eternal and inexhaustible question about the nature of structure in a work of art. The presented works provide a cross-section of the creative poetics of predominantly Croatian artists and designers such as Ivan Picelj, Aleksandar Srnec, Juraj Dobrović, Miroslav Šutej and Milan Vulpe, while deviations from the national key selection vividly testify to the rich cultural connections and exchanges with other artistic centers within the European and global context. Reflecting the aesthetic changes of its time and the cyclical changes of the thought and sensory principle, In the Everlasting Flux confronts us with the only consistency – that of eternal flow and constant change.

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The HAB spring sculpture park exhibition creates a dialogue between two artists who approach the question of the relationship between nature and man through timeless and ancient motifs. Whether it is about the patterns of nature or prehistoric architecture, deep, common layers emerge in the sculptures of Péter Gálhidy and Fábián Baráth. In both of their works, the impact of man on nature and his own world plays an important role, but while Péter Gálhidy approaches this process from the motif of plants, Fábián Baráth views this process from the motifs of the built environment.

The works on display at the exhibition, entitled Human Effect, substantiate the ecological approach in Péter Gálhidy’s oeuvre, present from the beginning, but becoming increasingly prominent in his work. As he puts it, confronting the magnitude of the polycrisis has also triggered stronger, more clear-cut expressions from him. Meanwhile, Fábián Baráth’s sculptures approach the relationship between nature and human intervention from a different angle. His thinking is greatly influenced by the relics of prehistoric architecture and ancient stelae, and in his sculptures he evokes the radiant power that appears in them.

Despite the apparent differences in expression between the two artists, close similarities in their outlook on life are also hinted at by the joint appearance of their works, as both pay strong homage to prehistoric forces.

This year, HAB once again puts art in the spotlight for the Night of Museums: we welcome everyone with 3 fascinating exhibitions, unconventional guided tours, atmospheric music, and exciting workshops. On this special night, HAB will be open until midnight. Our exhibitions are free, and the Museum Night wristband grants access to all of our programs — however, prior registration is required for participation. Please note that wristbands are not available for purchase at HAB, for more information, please visit https://muzej.hu/en/.

Our exhibitions:

In the Everlasting Flux. A Selection of Modern and Contemporary Art from the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Zagreb

What do we learn about art as such once we leave the realm of representation? What meanings does abstraction bring and what does it communicate? What is the relationship between the geometric and organic principles of design and what is the place of abstraction in the context of the relationship between fine and applied arts? To mark the 145th anniversary of the Museum of Arts and Crafts (MUO) this exciting exhibition presents a selection from their modern and contemporary collection, featuring works by outstanding artists such as Ivan Picelj, Aleksandar Srnec, Juraj Dobrović, Miroslav Šutej, and Milan Vulpe.

HAB Cabin – Gábor Király, winner of the 2024 HAB Award

In HAB’s new exhibition space, you can explore the work of Gábor Király, recipient of the 2024 HAB Award. His winning piece, Ártér télen I., is presented in the context of complementary paintings, courtesy of Einspach & Czapolai Fine Art.

Human effect

The HAB spring sculpture park exhibition creates a dialogue between two artists who approach the question of the relationship between nature and man through timeless and ancient motifs. Whether it is about the patterns of nature or prehistoric architecture, deep, common layers emerge in the sculptures of Péter Gálhidy and Fábián Baráth.

Programmes:

18:00 Guided tour with the curator at the In the Everlasting Flux show

Curator Petra Galović of the Museum of Arts and Crafts, Zagreb offers a guided tour in English with Hungarian translation.
The tour is in English.
Please register at event@arthab.hu.
Max. capacity: 30.

18:40–19:00; 19:20–19:40; 21:00–21:20 Live music

On this exciting night, our program will be enriched by live music: the unique musical experience will be provided by saxophonist Gergely Juhász.

21:30 Guided tour with torches at the Human Effect sculpture park

The exhibition showcasing Péter Gálhidy’s and Fábián Baráth’s works at HAB’s garden can be seen from an all new perspective at this guided tour, as we offer torches to visitors. The tour is in Hungarian. Please register at event@arthab.hu. Max. capacity: 20.

22:00 Guided tour at the In the Everlasting Flux show

Délia Vékony, Director of HAB is guiding us around the exhibition presenting masterpieces from the collection of the Museum of Arts and Crafts, Zagreb. The tour is in Hungarian.

Please register at event@arthab.hu.
Max. capacity: 30.

22:30 Guided tour with torches at the Human Effect sculpture park

The exhibition showcasing Péter Gálhidy’s and Fábián Baráth’s works at HAB’s garden can be seen from an all new perspective at this guided tour, as we offer torches to visitors. The tour is in Hungarian. Please register at event@arthab.hu.
Max. capacity: 20.

Free entry!