The International Estate of Artists in Szigetvár moved to the Yunus Emre Institute of Turkish Cultural Center in Budapest for three weeks where – with the assistance of the Representation Office of the Organization of Turkic States – it displayed an exhibition under the title “The Key to Szigetvár”. The following dignitaries participated in the official opening: H.E Ahmet Akif Oktay, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Budapest, Péter Vass, the mayor of Szigetvár, Mustafa Aydoğdu, the Director of the Yunus Emre Institute of Turkish Cultural Center in Budapest, Klára Halmos, the Secretary of the KAPOS ART Association of Graphic and Applied Arts and at the same time the President of the International Estate of Artists in South Danubia, H.E. Ambassador János Hóvári, the Head of the Representation Office of the Organization of Turkic States in Budapest and painter György Szemadám, the full member of the Hungarian Academy of Arts.
In his remarks, János Hóvári emphasized that it was a great honor to be able to organize in the Yunus Emre Institute in Budapest the exhibition of art of the international Estate of artists whose home has been in Szigetvár for several years. The enthusiasm for graphic art of Klára Halmos and painter András Vörös – who take an excellent team to Szigetvár year after year – is highly appreciated. “The artists are able to create their works in a real historical environment. Here, I mean the mosque inside the fortress of Szigetvár, the fortress itself and its environs, the House of Salt”, stated János Hóvári who added: it is very important that the artists at the Estate are able to disengage from the monotonous everyday life and concentrate solely on the creation of works of art. Speaking about the cultural ties between Hungary and Turkey, Ambassador Hóvári said that they are excellent. There are several joint events – similar to the current one – that contribute to the cooperation between the two countries.
The Director of the hosts, Mustafa Aydogdu expressed his pleasure that “The Key to Szigetvár” exhibition is moving to the Yunus Emre Institute for three weeks. He thanked the representatives of the Estate for bringing the forty paintings that the Institute is pleased to display to those interested. The Institute would like to establish long-term relations in arts with the Estate in Szigetvár, and may present their works even in Turkey. The Director emphasized that the Institute was already preparing for 2024, the Year of Hungarian–Turkish Friendship that would offer opportunities for several joint cultural events.
In her remarks, Klára Halmos pointed out that for them the Estate meant both working together and a lot of fun, as well as expertise and gaining experiences. “We are shaping personalities and producing values. We are creating not only works of art but sensitive people as well who marvel at the reality, since the community shapes its members.” The Secretary of the KAPOS ART Association added that Szigetvár has enchanted them, and the place inspires the art of all the participants. She particularly highlighted the work of painter András Vörös who has edited the exhibition and the leaflets in connection with it.
In his address, Péter Vass, the mayor of Szigetvár confessed that they always went to great lengths so that their visitors leave the town of Miklós Zrínyi with positive experiences. The work at the Estate is productive and efficient, both the Hungarian and foreign artists are eager to create works at the historical venues and are pleased to return. “When I talk about Szigetvár and Miklós Zrínyi, everyone will, naturally, know that Sultan Suleiman too played a great role in putting our town on the imaginary map of world history. 456 years ago it would have been unthinkable that we – Hungarians and Turks – could stand here in a building maintained by the Republic of Turkey, at a Hungarian exhibition of graphic art, the works of which were produced in the very town where Count Miklós Zrínyi and Sultan Suleiman had been fighting a fierce battle against each other”. Péter Vass reminded the audience of the acts that extend beyond simple gestures, as a result of which the Park of Hungarian–Turkish Friendship was established where the bronze statues of Count Miklós Zrínyi and Sultan Suleiman stand side by side. “Think of the House of Turkey, the Yunus Emre Square inaugurated in 2021, the one hundred bushes of roses planted in the fortress, half of which were donated by the town and the other half by the Turkish state. All these things demonstrate that both sides are making efforts to live side by side in peace, that we can accept the other, because we do want to do so, because it is important for us that we live in peace while respecting the history of the other.”
György Szemadám also made a passionate speech in which he applauded the significance of the Camp of Artists in Szigetvár that is organized by Klára Halmos each year. The painter stressed the love of the people in South Danubia, as well as their outstanding artistic achievement that are related to it.
