Választások 2003

Short listing

An exhibition resurrected from the original WordPress archive of the Godot Gallery.

Full exhibition text

The Godot Gallery respectfully invites you

Elections 2003

(Fine) Art versus Politics

for the opening of the exhibition titled

On _2003 November _3th, Monday.

József Baksai

Imre Bukta

Dr Máriás Béla

ef Zámbó István

El Kazovszkij

Földi Péter

József Gaál

Péter Kovács

György Szemadám

Szurcsik József

Opening: 18 o'clock

Göncz Árpád's greeting

The exhibition guardians:

Arpad Göncz

the former president of the Republic of Hungary

István Hiller

the Minister of National Cultural Heritage

Szurcsik József

The exhibition can be viewed from 2003 November 21.

from Monday to Friday 10–18 o’clock,

at a different time, with prior arrangement

The Godot Gallery invites you to the opening of the exhibition “Elections _2003_, Visual Art vs Politics” on _2003 November _3_, a Monday. At _18_ o’clock, Arpád Göncz will give a welcome speech. The exhibition’s patrons are Árpád Göncz, former President of the Republic of Hungary, and István Hiller, Minister for National Cultural Heritage.

The Godot Gallery decided to hold the Elections 2003 because, even though there are no political elections in the 2002 and 2004 years, a constant, heightened campaigning mood still prevails. Our society has become overtly political; people talk about politics in the streets, in schools, at home, practically everywhere, whether with or without emotion. Yet the so‑called Western democracies have shown over the past half‑century that there is no significant difference between the measures of governments that adhere to basic democratic values on different ideological foundations. In the domestic public sphere, in public thought and public attention, politics remains the headline, forever stealing the cover story. We feel that more and more people are being worn out by this and are turning away from the inappropriate tone and style. Through the exhibition we wish to draw people’s attention to a sphere of life that we consider far more important, namely visual arts.

Gaal József

We have commissioned a generation's 10 most important artists to voice their opinion on the current situation in the language of visual expression. József Baksai, Imre Bukta, Dr Béla Máriás, El Kazovszkij, István Ef Zámbó, Péter Földi, Jószef Gaál, Péter Kovács, György Szemadám and József Szurcsik all shout at once, each with his own unique, individual world, over‑politicising our lives and simultaneously offering the audience a choice. With the exhibition we wish to create several different choice situations. On the one hand there is a choice between increasingly marginalised (visual) art and the all‑encompassing politics. We place politics on one side, which through the media tries to control thoughts, actions, everyday life, and visual art, which receives less and less time and offers less and less depth, catharsis, and support. On the other hand a choice situation arises among the works on display. Of course we do not wish to create any competitive atmosphere among the invited artists; the choice emerges from the exhibition’s natural character, as the viewer evaluates and selects what is most valuable to them.

Bukta Imre: One glass is half empty, the other half full

At the exhibition we wish to confront the viewer with the following questions:

How much time do you devote to politics? What role does politics and art play in your life? Do the political elections truly matter to you? Has politics ever had a direct impact on your life? Have you voted or attended an exhibition more than 13 years? How much leather is in the pictures? When did an artistic event provide you with catharsis? Have you ever felt biased against an artist? How many artists and politicians do you know? Who do you choose?/What do you choose?

El Kazovszkij: Desire‑Desire

The stakes are truly high, visual arts versus politics. Please vote – give your voice by visiting any exhibition hall in the country.

Vote for us.

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