Poster by Istvan Orosz
Szepmuveszeti muzeum Budapest, Hungary
20. 3 – 7. 6. 2009
Curators: Marta Sylvestrova and Petr Stembera (CZ), Marton Orosz and Ferenc Toth (HU)
The exhibition called "In Praise of Woman: Alfons Mucha – Czech Master of the Art Nouveau" is a joint project of the Szepmuveszeti muzeum in Budapest and the Moravian Gallery in Brno. It aims to introduce in Hungary, and later this year also in his native Moravia, the Czech artist Alfons Mucha, a world-famous personality of the art nouveau epoque. The impact in the exhibition is therefore given to the artist’s Parisian period, when his graphic art flourished under the inspiration of charismatic actress Sarah Bernhardt and his decorative creation became known in Europe and also in the United States as „le style Mucha“, contributing to the spirit of the belle epoque at the turn of the century.
The exhibition displays a selection of more than 100 painting and graphic works by Alfons Mucha, including highlights of his poster art, drawings and decorative designs, documenting his influential interaction on the visual style of the Art Nouveau era. The exhibition has been prepared in collaboration with the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague and the Mucha Foundation, Prague, and it is an official accompanying event of the Czech Presidency of the European Union. It has been kindly supported by the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. Its taking place within the framework of the Budapest Spring Festival 2009 is a part of the project of the Czech Centre in Budapest, presenting the Czech Republic as a special guest of the festival.
Accompanying the event is a poster competition "Hommage to Alfons Mucha" organized
by the Hungarian Poster Society. canceled on April 15, 2009.