In celebration of its 30th. anniversary, the Várfok Gallery continues its exhibition programme with a large-scale group exhibition entitled ‘Extraordinary Artworks in Extraordinary Times’.

The Várfok Gallery has been closed for two months because of government restrictions relating to COVID-19, during which time it contributed to a series of art based articles with Papageno online cultural magazine called ‘Extraordinary Artworks in Extraordinary Times’. The articles, echoing the Várfok Gallery’s motto, ‘The Antique Was Also Contemporary Once’, incorporated contemporary art within the framework of classical art with the aim of awakening in readers a range of free associations and thoughts.

The starting point was often an artwork from the Várfok Gallery collection, but presented in a broader context. Comparisons were made between the iconic photography of Péter Korniss’s ‘Women with Baskets’ and Italian sacra conversations, the lion of László Szotyory with depictions of medieval bestiaries and glorious baroque images, the frightened cow of Máté Orr with ‘Horse Frightened by Lightning’, by Eugène Delacroix, a leading figure of French Romanticism.

In addition to the above, the exhibition also features outstanding art pieces such as Françoise Gilot’s self-portrait, ‘Pénelopé’, a gem of Endre Rozsda’s kaleidoscopic period, the radiant ‘Tidal Factors’ by László Mulasics and, one of his final works, Interferences III.

A special feature of the exhibition will be that, along with the contemporary artworks by artists of the Várfok Gallery, classical masterpieces will be shown. ‘Ino and Melikertes Tumbling into the Sea’ (circa 1830, Gábor Kovács Art Collection), an outstanding work, heated with romantic fervour, by Károly Markó the Elder, one of the founders of Hungarian landscape painting will be on display. Additionally, the touchingly beautiful and intimate painting, ‘Mother with Child’ by Noémi Ferenczy (1890–1957), a versatile artist who revived the interest in twentieth-century Hungarian tapestry art will also be on view.

Exhibition visitors will also be able to see the world-famous ‘Girl with Fan’ by Marie Laurencin, acknowledged to be one of the most important female figures of the French avant-garde, she was Apollinaire’s muse, immortalised by Rousseau in his legendary painting, ‘The Muse Inspiring the Poet’.

The exhibition ‘Extraordinary Artworks in Extraordinary Times’ emphasises the continuity of art history and the significance of art to the times. Visitors are invited to let their imaginations soar freely on a journey across eras and styles, making connections to contemporary life.