Written by Kovács Ágnes     

Translated by Zoltán Bartko

MaJel Rovás Centrum, Alžbetina 42, Košice, Slovakia

12 October 2017 - 2 November 2017
On 12th October, the “Blessed Virgin Mary” touring exhibition opened at the House of Hungarian Presence in Košice, Slovakia. This comprehensive exhibition was set up by the Hungarian Research Institute for National Strategy to combine the works of 55 contemporary artists, exhibiting the relationship of the Blessed Virgin Mary – “Boldogasszony” in Hungarian – and the Hungarians.

The Hungarians have always had a special relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary, considered to be the patron of the Hungarians. This exhibition tries to display this link.

“If we, laymen and sinners, examine our prayers, we must say that when we pray to the Heavens, it is Mary, to whom we turn to the most often in our prayers – except for the Lord′s prayer; she is the one we ask for help, thus I believe, this is a deep relationship”, said Jenő Szász, president of the Research Institute for National Strategy in Budapest, Hungary.

Many techniques and age categories are present at this exhibition, trying to re-formulate the multi-faceted image of the Virgin in a contemporary artistic fashion. In addition to this, it tries to embed the image of the Virgin in the everyday lives of the communities.

“When selecting the artists, our primary criterion was to make sure that the particular person is capable of formulating the complex and complicated image, ranging from the ancient female deity of the Hungarians to the Virgin”, said Norbert Tóth, trustee of the exhibition, director of the Forrás Institute of Arts, seated in Budapest, Hungary.

This exhibition points out the double heritage of the Hungarians. On one hand, we have to remain Hungarians – preserve our mother tongue and our culture. On the other hand, we have to follow the Christian heritage we received when King Stephen I, founder of the Kingdom of Hungary, offered his crown to the Virgin Mary.

“We are here in this milieu, knowing that we Hungarians – thanks to King St. Stephen of Hungary – our country was the first to be offered by a king, a layman, to the Virgin”, said Zoltán Pásztor, vicar of the diocese of Košice, Slovakia.

All of the works show an intimate tie of the authors and the Virgin.

“If one depicts the Virgin and the scenes of the Gospel, it pleases God. This is the kind of paintings I need to paint; this is my connection to the Virgin Mary”, said painter János Molnár, one of the exhibiting artists.

This exhibition shows a complete and perfect world. It is genuinely Hungarian and also acceptable to the other nations of the Carpathian basin, conveying an important message to them, which may also be the link helping to find the common past, present and future.

The exhibition is open to the public until November 2 at the House of Hungarian Presence at Alžbetina street 42 in Košice, Slovakia.