Nearly 900 entries featured at painting biennale in Szeged
The 21st Painting Biennale opened last weekend at REÖK Palace, showcasing around 130 works selected from nearly 900 submissions in one of Hungary’s largest contemporary painting exhibitions.
The exhibition, which runs through June 28, presents a cross-section of contemporary Hungarian painting, featuring artists from multiple generations and a wide range of styles, themes, and techniques.
The biennale opened with an awards ceremony attended by artists, curators, and visitors despite rainy weather in Szeged.
László Barnák, general director of the Szeged National Theater, said in opening remarks that the exhibition provides opportunities for younger and established artists to meet and exchange ideas, similar to the collaborative environment of theater companies.
Art historian Éva Ibos, senior curator at the Tornyai János Museum, said the biennale now offers a broad national overview of Hungarian panel painting, a format that became established later than biennales in other visual arts disciplines.
According to the organizers, this year’s exhibition reflects several recurring themes in contemporary Hungarian painting, including large-scale compositions, depictions of decay and erosion, and interpretations of both natural and industrial environments.
The jury — art historian Róbert Nátyi, painter Andrea Papageorgiu and Munkácsy Prize-winning painter Szilárd Cseke — selected the exhibited works from nearly 900 submissions.
Several awards were presented during the opening ceremony.
The biennale’s main prize, awarded by Hungary’s Ministry of Culture and Innovation, went to György Király for his works Harang-csend, Vihar-csend (“Bell Silence, Storm Silence”).
The REÖK Award, which includes an invitation for a future solo exhibition, was presented to Márton Barabás for Színes szürkék zongorafedélen, mint lengő pagodák (“Colored Grays on a Piano Lid, Like Swaying Pagodas”).
The City of Szeged Award went to Bolda Szmrecsányi for Shadow IV-V., while the Visual Arts Section of the Hungarian Academy of Arts honored Erzsébet F. Balogh for Horizont III. (“Horizon III”).
The Hunguest Hotel Szeged Award was presented to Hella Mayer for Útválasztó 3. (“Pathfinder 3”).
Visitors to the exhibition can also participate in a public vote for the REÖK Audience Award, which will be presented at the close of the biennale.
Photos: REÖK / Róbert Tari
