In the scope of the Kecskemét-based Contemporary Christian Iconographic Biennials, the audience could get acquainted with as many as 980 artworks so far. Thanks to the related activity of artwork collector László Gyergyádesz Jr. and his systematic approach, a special collection composed of over 400 items has been acquired up until today. And as far as non-church maintained Hungarian museums are concerned, this collection can be considered one of the most unique of its kind. Following similar exhibitions in Pécs Gallery (Pécs, Hungary) and Saint Stephen’s Basilica (Budapest), this showcasing presents a relatively small but qualitatively quite convincing selection of spectacular religious artworks.

In the scope of the Contemporary Christian Iconographic Biennials organised in the Kecskemét-based Cifra Palace between 2002 and 2016, the audience could get acquainted with as many as 980 artworks so far. Even this sheer number clearly shows the very gap this exhibition tries to fill in in the range of diverse Hungarian exhibitions. Thanks to the related activity of artwork collector László Gyergyádesz Jr. and his systematic approach, a special collection – composed of over 400 catalogued items in 2017 – has been acquired. And as far as non-church maintained Hungarian museums are concerned, this collection can be considered one of the most unique of its kind. The range of the actual items in the collection and their artistic quality are primarily influenced by the benevolence of the creating artists (i.e. their charitable donations) but, at the same time, they are also dependent on the themes of the past biennials these artworks were created for. On the other hand, such items are purposefully counterbalanced by targeted purchases of similar artworks (from support provided by the National Cultural Fund of Hungary). In fact, for the purpose of keeping this museum collection somewhat “alive” and contemporary, each collection is shown at as many locations as possible (so far this exhibition was on display, for example, in the following Hungarian locations: Synagogue Gallery in Eger, Pécs Gallery in Pécs, as well as in Klebelsberg Cultural Centre and Saint Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest).

Exhibition date: June 10-July 23, 2017