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One Topic … Two Exhibitions!

“Let’s meet under the clock!!!”

For more than 40 years this was the sentence all the residents of Budapest knew exactly by heart where the place is ,

Moscow Square …  2011 back to its original name Széll Kálmán tér!

1929-1951 named Szell Kalman Square

1951-2011  named Moscow Square

Back in 2011,  renamed Széll Kálmán Square.

So this square has 84 years of history and if these pathways could talk, I would have to write novels-over-novels …what a talk it would be!

January, 8. 2013 –  6 p.m. media and press representatives were call to the „Erzsébet tér” Elisabeth  Square at the Budapest’s Design Terminal.  The Elisabeth Square, for the elder folks may be more known as the Engels Square, but after the regime change, it was renamed to Elisabeth Square. In the past at this square was the central bus termini en-route to the countryside. To-day the Design Terminal, after its reconstruction, open its doors for all kind of exhibitions. At the opening there were the main city managers who dealt with the renewal  project of the Széll Kálmán tér.

The winner of the tender was  announced, as the  Építész Stúdió  Kft. “Architect Studio Ltd.” and Léptek-terv Kft. “Scale-Plan Ltd.” and Főmterv Engineering Design Ltd. who  jointly prepared the detailed implementation plans and approval. The construction works  are hopefully to  start during the springtime  of 2014.

“Last year in December, the Budapest Transport Center, the “BKK”, published a tender for spatial reconstruction” said by Dávid Vitézy, CEO Budapest’s Transport Center  who also added: ” Basically, the Széll Kálmán Square is the structure of  problems, on the narrow pedestrian corridors are a lot of dead spaces in the loop line and of course unnecessary.” Indicated the need of finding the area, the place for the bus termini, also that the current terminal can increase the proportion of green areas. He added that the importance of placing  several commercial catering  to function will  support many on their way to work to pick a sandwich or some dairy food.

The triangular space  is accessible from all directions and since it lies en route for everyone rolling by, ensuring the passengers,  or just as well for the road bikers for a much better comfort concept  to be re-built at one of the most busiest cross-junction at the Széll Kálmán Square in Budapest.
The Municipality of Budapest and the Budapest Transport Center “BKK” plan was step-by-step  was updated. The works submitted in the tender competition can be seen by the general public and the professions within the walls of the Budapest’s Design Terminal from January, 8. until January, 20. 2013.  Inside the exhibition hall a questionnaire is placed for visitors so that they could give their views, ideas on what kind of spaces should be implemented on the sidewalks.
Balázs Szeneczey, Deputy Mayor at Urban Development said that the tender’s gross cost of 22 million HUF was available. He described with detailed planning of public transport, walking and cycling aspects are taken into account, new elevators, and escalator stairways are needed. The interior in all directions hidden housing LED-lit lanes would be leading to-from-around the pedestrians.

The whole project cost  4.2 billion HUF which is connected  for reconstruction, in which the central budget, the interweaving of the “Buda Tram Project” and by the use from the source from the European Union.

Keeping  that in mind, the opening of the exhibition  has a wide-spread of photograph, entitled: “A Square in Budapest”, taken by Simon Móricz. All the squares,  like anywhere in the world have a geographic number, this Budapest’s Public Square  stands the number of  “7706” . Its name is now Széll Kálmán Square, but for many it still rings the bell as the Moszkva tér, “Moscow Square”! Simon Móricz says, “In the mid 90’s I met the Moscow Square,  and since then I feel like nothing has changed here in time. The Square remained an unfriendly, cold, wind-blown transport hub. The square is  at one of  Buda’s’ central area, the gate of the city in the city, however, in narrower scope the Moscow Square is mainly in use for two purpose, one for transportation or connection to other trams, buses and the other reason as a meeting point, to meet with friends, family, hubby. Every day hundreds of thousands of people break their way through the crowd. During the morning hours from drowsiness and in the afternoon’s  in the mood of trouble dazed.”

Well what’s true is true, the square’s body has an ugly birthmark of the city and it should be, and hopefully by the year 2015 reborn with more clear,  environmentally friendly and  philanthropic design. Just  to add one more note to the Moscow Square. In 1955, at the Moscow Square terminus the tram number 56 started its route. In 1999, the termination of the number 56, changed to the tram’s number 61. For many decades at the Moscow Square the number 56  tram abraded the 1956’s revolution, the old wounds, disgrace from the past history of  Hungary.

Update and snaps Aggie Reiter

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Co-lecture of the Culture Crew and the  Átrium-Film-Theater.

The  VAKNYUGAT  … the tiny dynamite which can exploded anytime … comes from  “The Lonesome West”  by the author Martin McDonagh and in Budapest the play is directed by Péter Gothár. The comedy and the agony comes from the same source, a fusion of hilarity and cruelty of a play of darkness. This play, I assume is acute at many societies and here at the Atrium-Film-Theater we are all social observers of  a great core story about family relationships and the troubles that often go on in families. Those troubles are exaggerated for comedic effect, but when you strip away that exaggeration there is a really true relationship that we can all relate to and in relating to it we can laugh-and-laugh at it.

The Vaknyugat is a four actors awesome play. You get hot ands cold at then same time with the features of arguing brothers Coleman and Valene, whose father has just died in a so-called shotgun accident. Valene agreed to provide a false alibi for Coleman, stating that their father’s death was accidental. In exchange, he demanded Coleman’s share of the inheritance money. Neither of the brothers show any grief or remorse at their father’s death. Valene’s only interest is in his religious ornaments,and drinking potatoe pálinka. While Coleman’s only mission is to daily attend at  funerals to eat and to collect free sausage rolls.  Father Welsh, the alcoholic parish priest, attempts to fix their relationship, but his advice goes unheard. It is revealed later in the play that Coleman had shot his father because he insulted his  new haircut.

The majesty of the Church is now reduced to the ineffectual, alcoholic priest, Father Welsh, played by Róbert Alföldi, who had a remark that said it all … „It seems God has no jurisdiction in this town. None at all.” Even living on alcohol he sees the Catholicism in Ireland is collapsing. He  sees himself as a failure, measured by the murders around him … the local policeman kills himself. Coleman kills his father.  The lack of moral perspective of the two brothers Valene, play by István Ficza and Coleman, played by Tamás Rétfalvi  sometimes funny but overall tragedies of their lives. Main fights are about who’s is what … who has any hidden potato pálinka in the house and oh, those potato chips goes as a battle of  life and death. Struggling about the newly bought stove…“the stove is mine, don’t you dare to touch it”  Fighting the whole day on everything and anything, but overall both are complete dependence on each other. Outside the brothers world there is also other kind of loneliness shown by the Kiscsilány “Girleen” played by Piroska Mészáros who is mocking and teasing, yet fond of Father Welsh, but in return he tells her his mind is set on saving the souls of Valene and Coleman. He is so depressed because of the hatred between the brothers and with a low self-esteem writes a letter begging the brothers to get along, asserting that he will stake his soul on it. Father Welsh, after writing this letter meets Kicsilány and gives the letter to pass it on to the brothers,  then after he goes to proceed to drown himself in the lake.  When Coleman and Valene read his letter they decide to reconcile themselves by confessions, as to admit the wrongs that they had secretly done to each other in the past and to forgive each other’s  sins. They both try to top their past acts and the floor get rough. They agree that fighting is actually good for them and they hope and believe that Father Welsh’s soul will be just fine.

Not only the power of the gunpowder hits the two acts. The actors create a world which in a  real world, so miserable, unbearable and as an observer your sweeten away by the superb play of the four actors.

At the moment the play is only in Hungarian language. Been told, plans are out to have it subtitled in English. Until then, surely recommend to go and see this McDonagh’s play at Budapest’s  “Átrium Film-Theater”. Why? … I believe the very talented and engaging cast of Hungarian actors performance will be memorable. and as for  the foreigners who are working, temporary staying in Hungary and have had already read the The Lonesome West play by McDonagh’s will be easily followed by the superb actors and also may be a good language practise.

 The play gives you something to think about. It’s funny at times because of how true it is.

Somehow this play rang the bell to the prehistoric times of two brothers: Cain and Abel which was so tragic. At the same time with all the funniest situations was a reminder of the 20th century’s two famous enemy figures called Tom and Jerry.  It all depends what mood we are in, what angle we look at when we watch these awesome actors of the Vaknyugat!

This update is upon the presentation play of December, 30, 2012 at the Átrium-Fim-Theater.

Was filled with joy to hear that my proposal has been heard and later implemented having English subtitle screened above the stage. Even more happy that foreigners living in Hungary now on can be familiar with the outstanding actors performance.

Address: District II. 55, Margit Blvd. Budapest

Tickets are available on the spot at the Átrium – Film – Szinház  

Local phone call: 317 9338  or 318 9844

E-mail: atriumfilmszinhaz.jegy.hu

Also at the Broadway ticket box office

Local phone call: 340 4040 or 780 0780

By order through e-mail: www.jegyplaza.hu

Updated and snaps  by Aggie Reiter

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Museum of Fine Arts – Budapest  … “Opened in 1906, the museum concentrates on international art exemplifying all major periods of European art. Its 100,000-item permanent collection – founded on contributions from Buda Castle, the Esterhazy and Zichy collections – is organized around six sections: Egyptian, Greek and Roman Classical Antiquities, Old Sculpture Gallery, Old Master Paintings (13th to 18th centuries), the Modern Collection, and Graphic Art (printmaking and drawings). Highlights include a superb collection of works by El Greco, Velazquez and Goya, as well as German, Netherlandish, Flemish, French and English master artists. Modern artworks exemplify Barbizon landscapes, French Impressionism and sculpture by Auguste Rodin.”

A brief overview of what took place at the officially opening  at  the Rodin exhibition.

Dr László Baán, General Director of the Museum of Fine Arts and the Hungarian National Gallery posted in invitation to the opening of the cabinet exhibition and naturally had the pleasure to participate at the master of arts, Rodin’s exhibition. As the director started his talk, he said: ” The Museum of Fine Arts, Hungary is honored to the Rodin Museum, Paris whom supported this exhibition and we pay  tribute to the magnificent cooperation between our two museums for being able to hold an exhibition of the greatest French sculptor artist of the 19th century.”

The opening speech presented by Pál Mácsai, Jászai Mari-winning Hungarian actor and since 2004 founder and director of the István Örkény Theater: “I am not too often doing speeches at openings, but my good friend László Baán ask me to open Rodin’s exhibition and I felt very honored for the call despite I am also is fond of Rodin’s artworks. He added: “We actors may only leave some prints of our acts to our audience whether it is a good or a poor act on the floors of the theater.” Absolutely, on the stage of  Rodin’s you just hold your breath, and be amaze the sophisticated artistic creations that will remain immortal.

Ferenc Tóth, curator of the exhibition and also curator at the Department of Art after 1800.This exhibition is the 8th part of the cabinet exhibition series of the Department of Art after 1800 held  a presentation connected to the opening of the magnificent artworks of Rodin.

The “Rodin”   exhibition can be visited at  the Museum of Fine Arts until March, 3. 2013.

Opening hours throughout the  week 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. except on Mondays 

Background of what to see at the exhibition:

The Budapest Museum of Fine Arts collection representing the art of the turn-of-the-century was assembled in the period between the founding of the institution in 1896. The opening to the public was in 1906. In the following years it was moulded into unit notable on an international level as well. From among all contemporary acquisitions the purchasing of 5 Rodin statues prepared by the artist distinctly stands out.

How it all happened … The details of the negotiations conducted in the next 2 years on two bronze, two plasters and one marble sculpture can be traced step-by-step in Térey’s letters addressed to Rodin. These are preserved in the archives in Paris at the Rodin Museum, also of these records at the Museum of Fine Arts Budapest. Through the source-book accompanying the exhibition these important documents are published for the first time. The year 1900 brought a decisive turn in the popularity of Rodin’s work. The Museum of Fine Arts obtained the five superb sculptures of the artist at the most opportune moment, prior to the rising of his international career and thus the price of his works.Three of the five artworks,”The Age of Bronze”, the “Portrait of Alexandre Falguiere” and “Eternal Springtime” were made directly on commission by the museum,

“Eternal Springtime” photograph dedicated by Auguste Rodin to Gyula Wlassics, Hungarian minister of religion and public education. The photo was taken by Eugéne Druet between 1896 and 1900. To-day it is at a Hungarian private collector.  The dedicated photograph taken of a previously made marble copy of “Eternal Springtime” was requested from the artist by Gábor Térey in order to persuade the minister to purchase the sculpture.

The Hungarian state’s following order was the plaster cast of two of the works shown in the time the Paris World Fair, The Age of Bronze and Alexandre Falguiére Portrait. At the time the plaster casts of the statues were considered of equal rank. Rodin developed this technique to so far unheard of perfection. An X-ray image taken in 2011 of the example of  The Age  of  Bronze held by the Museum of Fine Arts proves the procedure of plaster casting. It has been established that the wall of the cast in comparison to the full size of the work is very thin, around 57mm. The separately cast elements are held together by a tightly bound fabric net, pasted from the inside. Without using armature,m the insures the stable structure of the standing figure. Though the solution was characteristic of Rodin’s workshop in the case of smaller works, in this size it is considered a rarity.

Beside others can be seen: Theseus Fighting the Centaur Bianor from 1849, by Antoine-Louis Barye, 1896 – 1875 Paris. Also Portrait of Auguste Rodin from 1897, by Eugéne Carriére , 1849 – 1906.

The exhibition and catalog were created with the assistance of the Vaszary Villa  at Balatonfüred.

To visit the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions it is also possible with  the Rodin’s entrance ticket.

Update and snaps by Aggie Reiter

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WHERE ELSE THAN IN BUDAPEST AT THE NEWLY OPENED CUBAN HOUSE  AT THE  „FÉSZEK” CLUB!… (NEST)

A huge slice of old Havana’s brightness, sunshine along with the live cuban music, dancers, food as the Cubans like it.  Smashing  tropical cocktails blew away the invited visitors on the occasion of the opening the offshoot original Cuban La B  Del M …. La Bodeguita Del Medio … here in Budapest at the “Fészek” Club „Nest” …  A real Cuban Bar and Restaurant on the

57, Dob Street, located in the VIIth District of Budapest.

The original La Bodeguita Del Medio in Havana, was establishment dating back to the 40’s and for many around the World well-known for its famous visitor Ernest Hemingway,who often was rolling along up to the bar to have his Mojito or a shot of  Havana Club Blanco, lemon, sugar, mixed with frozen Daiquiri. By-the-way, that was the birthplace of the topical Mojito.

Beside the writer Hemingway, as regular guests,  like Brigitte Bardot, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Sophia Loren rolled in and even to-day’s fabs of the Hollywood’s world have been visitors to this place and lefts their handprints, snaps on these walls.

Here at the Fészek’s Cklub on the  upstairs there is one little corner furnished just the way as it stands in Cuba, as a  reminder of  where Hemingway was watching the world go by drinking his Mojito.  Entering at first into the Fészek’sClub, the inside view doesn’t seem to be a huge place, yet moving more further, it leads through to a large, high-ceiled place with snaps from the 4o’s, palm trees, mirrors all around, a huge bar desk where the busy hands were preparing the tropical cocktails, as if they were in a kinda competition. The group of cuban musicians blow the house away with their temper emotions.

Beside the cuban dishes which are not really common in Hungary,  were mouth-watering bits-and-pieces such as the Malanga… the tubers like potatoes which are so common beside Cuba at Puerto Rico. Just mentioning another delicious taste the Conger, the famous Cuban beans and rice, garlic, onion, paprika, cumin, bay leaves, oregano, pepper and salt cooked together.

The restaurant’s name La Bodeguita Del Medio in Spanish means.. “Pub in the middle of the street.”  Interesting in a way, because in those days the pubs and bars were standing on the corners of the streets. This restaurant in Havana was opened at the 27,  Empedrado Street  which was located in the middle of the street.

Budapest’s newest colorful spot at the Fészek Club, the Cuban restaurant was inaugurated by many celebs.  The evening was pumped up with hot salsa music and dancers,  colorful exotic Caribbean’s favorite long drinks and the cream on top was the real hand-made authentic Cuban Cohiba cigars brought by  Zoltán Németh, manager of the Pannon Tobacco Ltd.  So after having a drink inside,  the cigar quarter at the courtyard’s garden was full  of    men and ladies puffing smoke-signs.

The Fészek Club …   was full of  many celebrities fascinated of Cuban carefree merriment, while Edina  Gombos, TV presenter, here as the moderator of the event shared a lot of interesting facts on the backgrounds of this moody Cuban Bar and Restaurant. Also how her and her husband’s dream went through the dusty roads to finally have it come true to the present day to  open for the public this exotic place. Edina also added ” This place is never closed… Yes! … Open during the Xmas time as well.  More to it, every night there is a Barman show, Cuban live music and dance … last but not least we welcome guests but the only thing that we await from them is to feel good!” Edina,  including her husband, Cuban-born Alberto Costafred celebrated together  the opening  by dancing the hot salsa, showing the Cuban feeling.

Yes Sirs… the Cuban La Bodeguita Del Medio  is an  awesome place to drop in during these grey, snowy time outside in this time of  the year, to refresh ourselves with the hot mood,  leisure and entertainment. By-the-way they are having  the New Year Party starting at 7 p.m., dancing at Year-end with Cuban rhythms in the streets of Budapest. Nowhere planned to go… be a part at the secular New Year’s program enriched by the atmosphere of Cuba!

Update  and snaps by Aggie Reiter