SECRET·STORY·FAIRY TALE

Why a Secret?
It may sound surprising, but the Pesti Vigadó is an institution nearly two hundred years old. Everyone knows where it is, but few are familiar with its unique history, its cheerful or darker secrets.

Why a Story?
Because our exhibition does not simply present dry facts to visitors, but stories that make the past understandable and vivid.

Why a Fairy Tale?
Above the grand staircase, wall paintings recount the story of Prince Árgyelus and Fairy Ilona. Throughout the Vigadó, wondrous elements and mythological figures often appear in the most unexpected places, bringing the space to life.

The “golden age” is recognized only in hindsight – often even as a kind of retrospective illusion. With this in mind our exhibition reflects on the Vigadó’s rich and varied past, and on the instructing yet deceptive image it assumes in our view. We have chosen the concept of the golden age to remind ourselves that the values of life are worth recognizing in the present, while they are still unfolding.

IMPRESSUM

Curator: Nagy Zsombor

Professional design team:
Bara Júlia, Hidamétné Máté, Lőrincz Attila, Pattantyús Márton, Somogyi Márton, Szabó András Péter

Visuals and graphics:
Stég Graphic Design Workshop

Contributors:
Borsos Réka, Hajdara Ákos, Hidi Andrea, Horváth Tímea, Juhos-Kiss Gellért, Kis Gábor Norbert, Kuhinyi Szilvia, Laczkó Péter, Lovász Zoltán, Lőrincz Gáspár, Molnár Péter, Nagy Bod Mihály, Nagy Ágoston, Történelmi Hadi Akadémia Alapítvány, Vagyóczki Károly

Execution:
Vándorfényképész.hu, Megaprint Dekor Stúdió, Keszler Dekor és Design

Partner institutions:

• Budapest City Archives (BFL)
• Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), Department of History of Architecture and Monument Preservation, Drawing and Photo Archive
• Budapest History Museum, Kiscell Museum (BTM), Department of Modern Urban History: Architectural Collection and Building Element Collection, Photo Collection and Postcard Collection
• Fortepan photo archive
• Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library (FSzEK) – Budapest Collection
• KÖZTI Plc. – Plan Archive
• Hungarian Museum of Architecture and Monument Protection Documentation Center (MÉM MDK), Monument Documentation Department: Plan Archive, Photo Archive, Scientific Archive
• Hungarian University of Fine Arts (MKE), Library, Archives and Art Collection
• Hungarian Museum of Science, Technology and Transport
• National Archives of Hungary (MNL OL) – Plan Archive
• National Széchényi Library (OSZK) – Poster and Small Prints Collection
• Museum of Fine Arts – Central European Research Institute for Art History, Archive and Documentation Center (SZM-KEMKI, ADK)
• Museum of Fine Arts – Hungarian National Gallery (MNG) – Department of Prints and Drawings, Department of Paintings

Sustaining institutions:
Pesti Vigadó Nonprofit Ltd., Hungarian Academy of Arts (MMA)