Hungarian Hippies
The hippie movement and the underground art. A
selection from the underground art scene and contemporary photos of the 1960s
and 1970s
The sixties in the age of the
hippies. Or is it not?
In which way is the Hungarian hippie
culture similar to the American, English etc. hippies’?
Does the “Hungarian hippie” exist at
all?
The exhibition and
the connected publication dealing with the “Hungarian hippie” phenomenon – or
the authority of such a term - are the results of a long selection, and they
are made up by pairing two different viewpoints. According to this the exhibition has two
overlapping parts: one deals with the
effects of the hippie movement on Hungarian fine art, - selected by the
art historian Mónika Zombori; the other consist of original (digitalized and
printed) private and public photos from the sixties-seventies, chosen by András
Mezey “Golyó” who lived in and witnessed that period.
„The art section of the exhibition examines the effects of hippie
movement on the Hungarian underground art scene, searching for connections and
parallels within the subjectively chosen examples. Since the hippie movement
itself reached Hungary only indirectly, through mediators, its effect can only
discovered implicitly in the art of the 1960s and 1970s. In the given decades of the Kádár era a
special subculture was born which described itself in opposition to the
official art scene.
László Haris: Illegal avantgarde; Ferenc Veszely: Without...; János Vető: Kextrio
The artist members
of this subcultural group had an unusual way of life through which they continuously
expressed their opposition to the ruling regime, so their different mentality
stemming from their subcultural life ab ovo defined the form and content of
their works. In the exhibition those groups and personal paths are presented that
are in connection with the hippie mentality or attitude to life, and also those
that’s existence are induced by the current social, sociological and artistic
situation. The presentation of the
various genres was an important aspect of the concept: besides rarely seen
paintings, graphic works, and sculptures there are also films and the
masterpieces of poster art on display at the exhibition.”
/Mónika Zombori/
György Kemény: Pretty girls, don't cry!; Péter Sarkadi: LSD
„The “Downtown Gang” started to form around 1965 from youngsters living
at different parts of the town, who usually gathered in front of the Jégbüfé. Their
favourite places were the Kárpátia, the Korzó, the Apostolok and the Bajtárs restaurant,
the Építők club, the Eötvös club, the Egyetem pub, the Vén Diák pub, the
Belvárosi café and the stairs of the Danube bank. The other gang, the Kalef had
their base at Moszkva tér since the end of the 1950s, but they also frequented
the Danube bank, different downtown pubs, the Ifjúsági Park and the Bem wharf. Besides
them there were many more gangs, for example the Városmajori and the Nagyfa.
Klamár and Nagy Degesz; Atlasz; Jeans and rock at the Tabán
These youngsters attended mainly the concerts
of the Scampolo, the Atlas, the Liversing, the Atlantisz and the Dogs, later
the Sakk Matt, the cTűzkerék, the Kex, the Mini and the Syrius. Hundreds of
people belonged to these - in many cases overlapping - gangs. Some of them get
together nowadays, too. The former Downtown Gang members meet at the
Bodola-remembrance parties at the Bem wharf, the old Kalef Gang members use to
meet at Dörgicse. There were many photographers among them, who recorded the
members and the events: Gyuri Vértes
(Fotojás), István Bakos (Beethoven), György Bodola, János Vető and others. The
exhibited photos from the legacy of György Bodola and the collection of András
Mezey give an insight into the time and the life of these gangs.”
/András Mezey
„Golyó”/
The Rákóczi Street Gang - police photograph; Volley - performance of the Kalef Gang
Exhibiting artists: György Kemény, János Vető, György Kovásznai, Ferenc
Veszely, János Baksa-Soós, András Koncz, Lóránt Méhes, Péter Sarkadi, László Haris,
Gyula Konkoly, Sándor Bernáth/y, Tamás Díner, Árpád Darvas, József Pecsenke
The works of art were selected and the
exhibition was curated by: Mónika Zombori, art historian
The contemporary photos were selected and the
boards were composed by: András Mezey „Golyó”
Opening: 6 February 2014, 7 p.m.
Opened by: Zsolt K. Horváth social historian, critic and
András Mezey “Golyó”
On view: 7
February – 28 March 2014
After the opening
there is an official afterparty starting at 10 p.m. at Instant Bar, just a few
metres from the gallery!
(Address: 1065
Budapest, 38 Nagymező Street)
Supported by: NKA