Hungarian Culture Day in Zagreb
- Szendrei Judit
- Jan 31
- 2 min read
Almost exactly four years passed by between the issuing of these two posters as my exhibition in Luton, UK was opened on January 29, 2022 while the Liszt Institute commemorated the Day of the Hungarian Culture with opening of my exhibition on January 22, 2026. The exhibition organizers chose exactly the same title in between in the city of Pecs, Budapest and Brussels. You can see the picture giving this idea to Culture Trust Luton first time:
One can find the very nice modern gallery of the Liszt Institute in the very middle of Zagreb, just a step from the Ban Jellasich Square in the Ban Centre. The very large open spaces of the gallery offer thrilling opportunities to place the 28 pictures. In some cases one had even to climb the wall to hang the picture and place the labels. Here are a few photos of the hanging period:
The event was opened by Betarix Siklose, cultural attaché who greeted me with very warm words and also commemorated the Day of the Hungarian Culture. The Institute prepared a very nice video for this commemoration where Hungarian speaking people living in Croatia read each of a strophe of the Hungarian Anthem. The exhibition itself was opened by the representative of the Croatian Post. He presented me with a nice collection of Croatian stamps as well.
There were some interesting moments happening on this exhibition as well. I delivered a kind of interactive speech when I spoke about the start of my art activity and about my earlier exhibitions. Following this I made a guided tour also upon the request of the organizers for the visitors, among whom there were Croation art lovers, Hungarians living in the country and also stamp collectors.
The biggest surprise occurred closer to the end of the event. After the guided tour the organizers offered Hungarian wine to the participants. I had many interesting talks among them for example with a wood-geneticist of Hungarian nationality. Only a few people remained in the hall when a gentleman took me aside and took out from his bag a framed stamp compilation with the following title: „For Outstanding Work. Judit Czimer-Szendrei – In gratitude for your dedication and creativity”.
The gentleman was Filip Staroveski who worked in the Croatian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and was responsible for international cultural relations. His present, his special attention touched me very much thus I told him that I never had received similar present before.
To close the newsletter let me present the picture which was Mr Staroveskí’s favourite as well on the exhibition. The picture is interesting also from the point that although it is a summertime picture it was finished in winter. It is true, the title suggests the same: Remembering the Summer. If my recollections are correct this is the first picture in the making of which I used the origami technique but of course in a MoCoMo style meaning origami made of stamps.
I have almost forgotten another present but this present was not received but given by myself. I presented my picture titled A Mandala Inspired by History to the Liszt Institute in Zagreb to render thanks for this wonderful exhibition!
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