György Fekete and István Tarlós
Exhibition of József Somogyi and his students
An exhibition of the outstanding figure of Hungarian sculpture József Somogyi has been opened in Vigadó Gallery, which is part of the centre of MMA. At the opening ceremony on 21 April the visitors were greeted by professor emeritus György Fekete, President of MMA and by Istán Tarlós, Mayor of Budapest.
The exhibition, which can be seen until 26 June, presents a documentation of his public statues, a collection of his small plastics, coins and drawings as well as a selection of works by his former students. In addition to these two extraordinary documentaries can also be seen at the exhibition. The curators are Balázs Feledy, Zoltán Karmó and Pál Kő.
"Radiant tree. Man and sculptor. He was a great master". These were the words with which sculptor Pál Kő, a member of MMA evoked the personality of József Somogyi in his memoir written in 2001.
He produced works of art in every genre of sculpture, but the most important part of his artwork is constituted by his nearly 50 statues erected at public places. Educating students also played a major role in his lifework. First he taught at the Secondary School of Visual Arts in Budapest, then in the Sculpture Programme of the Hungarian College of Fine Arts. He was also rector of the latter institute for several years. The exhibition presents a documentation of his public statues, a collection of his small plastics, coins and drawings as well as a selection of works by his former students.
Somogyi was born on 9 June 1916 and died on 2 January 1993. He produced works of art in every genre of sculpture, but the most important part of his artwork is constituted by his nearly fifty statues erected at public places. Educating students also played a major role in his lifework. First he taught at the Secondary School of Visual Arts in Budapest, then in the Sculpture Programme of the Hungarian College of Fine Arts. He was also rector of the latter institute for several years. He is a posthumous honorary member of MMA and was one of the founders of MMA in the beginning when it was a civilian institution.
"Radiant tree. Man and sculptor. He was a great master". These were the words with which sculptor Pál Kő, a member of MMA evoked the personality of József Somogyi in his memoir written in 2001.
He produced works of art in every genre of sculpture, but the most important part of his artwork is constituted by his nearly 50 statues erected at public places. Educating students also played a major role in his lifework. First he taught at the Secondary School of Visual Arts in Budapest, then in the Sculpture Programme of the Hungarian College of Fine Arts. He was also rector of the latter institute for several years. The exhibition presents a documentation of his public statues, a collection of his small plastics, coins and drawings as well as a selection of works by his former students.
Somogyi was born on 9 June 1916 and died on 2 January 1993. He produced works of art in every genre of sculpture, but the most important part of his artwork is constituted by his nearly fifty statues erected at public places. Educating students also played a major role in his lifework. First he taught at the Secondary School of Visual Arts in Budapest, then in the Sculpture Programme of the Hungarian College of Fine Arts. He was also rector of the latter institute for several years. He is a posthumous honorary member of MMA and was one of the founders of MMA in the beginning when it was a civilian institution.
May 17, 2016
