“The most decisive experience of the postmodern society and the social and cultural structure following this postmodern society is the pluralist worldview, which presupposes synchronicity and sameness between phenomena and their interpretations. In other words, it is not the spirit of the age that establishes and defines the frames of the surrounding environment but a series of choices and decisions by the individual, who selects from among parallel options of interpretation. Ritta Hager’s choice is obvious and not only to her but also to her audience: her personal witness becomes visible in the community experience and lifestyle of the Christian believer. In her case, confessing her Christian spirituality substituted for the deficit that 20th century atheist worldviews could not compensate through their artificial means. Even if there have been and still are several paths to choose from, Ritta Hager opts for the evangelical path and deems it the only valuable and redeeming way. To this end, she has chosen art to serve as the expression of her witness: her faith finds a public expression her textile compositions full of spiritualism.

When beholding Ritta Hager’s artwork, the key to the reception of her visual image is partly the figurative content of the depicted scene, and partly the symbolic shapes of the abstract depiction itself. In both cases, the common interpretative ground is mediation. In the concurrent presence of Ritta Hager’s expertise comprising her ability to convey her message and her demand for aesthetic quality, harmony is created through the immaterial depiction of silence and light. The one in the centre of attention is invisible; and that which our intellect and reason will listen to is inaudible. Senses not simply fail: they undergo metamorphosis, in which state the individual will resort to art in an attempt to expand their weakened and diminished physical capabilities.”

(art historian Márton Keppel)

Organiser: Hungarian Academy of Arts’ Section of Applied Arts and Design