project culTOUR

Take a studio museum. Add the works of two spectacular artists; sprinkle it with hospitality; top it with an intimate atmosphere; and finally apply a devoted and professional staff and voila, you have one of the best museum experiences of your life. I have to admit, when we stepped into the museum and the guide immediately offered us some tea (for free of course) I was already swept off my feet and this musem visit got better with every minute...but let me start from the beginning.

 The museum is located in Buda, in a very peaceful, green, and pleasant neigbourhood, exactly where I would have imagined the home of a painter. The house he lived and worked in is still his family's property, in fact, his descendants live in the floor under the studio. They are actively participating in the art programs/events organized by the museum, and Pál Molnár C.'s grandson is a guide himself. The staff also includes art history teachers and students from the Péter Pázmány Catholic University. I could feel from the first minute that this museum focused more on the appreciation of art and preserving the memory of a loved grandfather rather than profit. Every single person we met ( the art history teacher, the student, and the family members) was very welcoming. They all introduced themselves with a handshake and wide smiles on their faces.

We started with the temporary exhibition in the studio of Pál Molnár C. (1894-1981). He was a Hungarian modern artist, with a very diverse style repertoire. In 1937, at the Paris World Fair, which was one of the most extraordinary cultural events of the century, he won three awards for his artistic achievement: a Diplome d'Honnoeur for his graphic art, a Grand Prix award for his Cyrano-themed xylograph series and a gold medal for his work 'I believe in the resurrection of Hungary'. His achievement in religious art is also significant; while skimming through some of the books in his studio we realized that he painted the altar-pieces of many churches in Budapest. My friend was ecstatic when she saw that the altar-piece of a church in her hometown was also a Pál Molnár C. creation. His sketches were used to illustrate daily papers, the menus of the New York Cafe, and even the poetry books of famous Hungarian poets, such as Dezső Kosztolányi. The walls were crowded with his works, highlighting the diverse nature of his creations. While sipping our delicious tea and viewing those masterpieces, me and my friend were repeatedly looking at each other with awe, expressing how astonishingly great this museum was. 

From our guide we have learned that the museum organizes events every week, both for children and adults. The little ones are incredibly lucky, I must say; what can be better than an interactive art program where kids can sit down and paint in the studio of an extraordinary artist? Apparently it is the best thing ever, because parents got jealous and asked for a similar art program for adults as well. Additionally, there are other kind of events with artists, painting conservators, and other guest speakers.

The temporary exhibition centers around the works of Gyula Rudnay, a contemporary of Pál Molnár C. He received several esteemed awards himself, among them the Kossuth Prize, which is the most prestigious cultural award in Hungary. He is well-know from his individual use of color and fondness of  the Hungarian countryside, the topic of most of his works. His landscapes and paintings of the village life of early 20th century Hungary are a must-see for every tourist. 

An art history teacher from Pázmány University gave us quite an extended tour, so much so that we stayed for 20 mintes after the museum should have closed. He talked about the earlier temporary exhibitions, shared stories of the museum events, and chronicled the whole life story of Rudnay, his inspirations and the characteristics of his painting style. At some point he sat down and played something on the piano while we were in the other room; another indicator that this museum has a very special atmoshpere.

Apparently, there is a little game for visitors after they are finished with the exhibitions and if they paid attention, they might even win a little prize! ;)

Tips and facts for future visitors:

- the only little problem was the lack of English translation under the quotes, however, the guides are so enthusiastic that they will gladly translate anything

- the museum shop is amazing, definitely check it out!

- you must drink from the tea, it is the best!

- I suggest that you call the museum in advance to make sure the English speaking guide will be there at the time of your visit

- the website is only available in Hungarian at the moment so in case you need further info, do not hesitate to leave a comment and ask me