Exhibition 2018.01.27. - 2018.03.18.
From the Venus of Kökénydomb to NASA

Ticket prices

1.500 HUF

Ceramic Art and Ceramic Industry in the Hungarian town of Hódmezővásárhely

Hódmezővásárhely Ceramics Symposium was established in 1998 at the initiative of the Hungarian town of Hódmezővásárhely.

Executing a decree of the Hungarian Council of Ministers in the 1960s, Alföldi Porcelain Factory was founded in Hódmezővásárhely, where local traditions of ceramics production flourished. Later the factory was privatised and thus the following companies were formed: Alföld Porcelán Edénygyár Kft. (porcelain ware factory), Burton Apta Tűzálló-anyaggyártó Kft. (fireproof materials production factory) and Villeroy&Boch Magyarország Kft. (ceramic sanitary wear producer). Keram-Pack Rt. (manufacturer of maiolica products) has been present in Hódmezővásárhely from the 1990s. The factories operating in the town of Hódmezővásárhely, arts organisations, the Association of Hungarian Creative Artists, the Association of Hungarian Fine and Applied Artists as well as the Hungarian Ceramic Artists' Society signed an agreement to establish Hódmezővásárhely Ceramics Symposium. Based on invitations to submit applications, each year 14 to 16 artists are awarded with the possibility to work for a period of five weeks using the most modern materials and technologies. In return, the awarded artists present one of their artworks to the Ceramics Collection of Hódmezőváráshely. The Collection’s pieces are showcased in the scope of Hungarian and international exhibitions.

In 2002, in the area where the historical Maiolica Colony used to be situated, a new settlement called Colony of Artists was built, which was populated during the whole year. From 2006 on, after its relocation to 9 Nagy Sándor Street, this Colony continued to exist under the name of Art, Education and Research Centre of Hódmezőváráshely. From 2012 on, the Centre has been operating under the name of International Ceramics Centre of Hódmezővásárhely.

Hódmezővásárhely Ceramics Symposium and the International Ceramics Centre of Hódmezővásárhely provide artists with the opportunity to carry out high quality creative artistic work in calm environments. It is a great pleasure to see that the town of Hódmezővásárhely, the factories and the art organisations all join hands to realise the common goal of promoting artistic creation in the scope of an exemplary, continued and high quality co-operative effort.

In the context of European craftsmanship, the ceramic art of Hódmezővásárhely boasts of unparalleled richness throughout its history, which dates back to several thousand years.

Numerous findings of high artistic quality, dating from the prehistoric age to modern times, have been unearthed at locations close to Hódmezővásárhely, namely in the area of Gorzsa and Kökénydomb. Along the bank of the Stream Kotac, objects originating from the culture inhabiting the areas along the Rivers Körös and Tisza were identified; these objects include pots, idols and special pots assuming the shape of cultic human figures. The town of Hódmezőváráshely is also a world-renowned site of Neolithic ceramic culture finds.

Glazed ceramics started to become more widespread already in the 17th century. At the end of the 1800s, 240 independent potters worked in Hódmezőváráshely. In 1912, the artists living in the town established the Materials Industry Maiolica Colony of Artists. In 1963, executing a decree of the Hungarian Council of Ministers, Alföldi Porcelain Factory was founded in Hódmezővásárhely, which functioned as the biggest ceramics factory of contemporary Europe. In 1989, the factory was separated into three distinct units and was privatised.

Arranged along a timeline, this exhibition presents unique values associated with the never-ending process of producing ceramic art and ceramic ware production. Special exhibits of this showcasing include contemporary applied artists’ works displaying technological wonders unmatched in Europe.

Curator of the exhibition: ceramic artist Zsuzsa Pannonhalmi

Events related to the exhibition:

15th February 2018, 11.00

Conference

This conference is organised with the co-operation of Hódmezővásárhely Ceramics Symposium and the Hódmezővásárhely-based ceramics and porcelain factories.

Hódmezővásárhely Ceramics Symposium, the International Ceramics Centre of Hódmezővásárhely and the Ceramics Collection of Hódmezőváráshely all celebrate the 20th anniversary of their opening.

6th March 2018, 11.00

Conference

The 50-year-long History of the Twin Town Relationship between Vallauris and Hódmezővásárhely

Vince Wartha’s Research and the Material ‘Eosin’

Vallauris and Hódmezővásárhely: The Present State of Contemporary Ceramic Art

Event location

Vigadó Gallery - Exhibition Hall on the 6th Floor The exhibition space located on Pesti Vigadó’s 6th floor can be rented separately or jointly with the other exhibition spaces situated on the 5th and 6th floors. Read more about this location