The photo exhibition The Great Master of Photography – André Kertész opened on September 19, 2024, with great interest at the gallery of the Collegium Hungaricum in Rome. As a continuation of last year's exceptionally successful Robert Capa exhibition, it aims to present the work of world-famous photographers of Hungarian origin. In addition to photos of the artist's home country, the retrospective provides insight into well-known works from his oeuvre. The exhibition, curated by Gabriella Csizek and organized in partnership with the Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Centre in Budapest, is open to the public in Rome until November 22.
Marco Delogu, the director of Palaexpo, one of Rome's most prestigious contemporary art museums, opened the event. Delogu is a well-known Italian photographer who previously served as director of the Italian Cultural Institute in London. His presence not only reaffirmed the importance of the show in Rome and garnered an expert and engaged audience. Following the welcome by Institute Director Dr. Krisztina Lantos, Marco Delogu emphasized in his speech that the uniqueness of André Kertész's art lies in capturing those moments that can have an impact as vividly a hundred years later as they do now. Curator Gabriella Csizek defined the subject of the exhibit and highlighted that Kertész selected the items for the display when he donated them to his hometown, Szigetbecse. The opening event attracted almost 300 people, including numerous young attendees. A popular blogger from Rome was also present at the event, and after his post, hundreds of new followers appeared on the Collegium Hungaricum's social media channels in Rome. This, combined with the institution's new promotion strategy, resulted in 242 visitors on the first day, a record for the Hungarian Cultural Institute in Rome.
Hungarian-born André Kertész created his own universe in his output, defining the conceptual framework of modern photographic vision. In his lyrical visuals, subjectivism and modernity coexist. André Kertész intended to become a photographer and enjoy the pleasure of making photos from an early age. For seven decades, he used his camera to create a visual record of what interested and touched him: his life, himself, his partner, his friends, his personal living spaces, and the world around him. Although he did not achieve the worldwide recognition he deserved, he became one of the world's most recognized photographers, not just in professional circles; his famous photos are considered iconic pieces of contemporary culture.
The pictures displayed in the exhibition were selected by him in his later years as a gift to his hometown of Szigetbecse, which provided him with lovely childhood memories, and for the André Kertész Memorial Museum, which was established there. This separately organized retrospective exhibit includes not only photographs related to Szigetbecse but also widely recognized works from his oeuvre, providing a fresh perspective on the world-renowned artist's work. The exhibition will remain open until November 22, 2024.
You can watch the report of the opening ceremony by M1, from 9:44 min:
https://mediaklikk.hu/video/ma-delelott-2024-09-23-i-adas-2/
