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Art Corner

The ART CORNER is a cultural event series jointly conceived and designed for the long term by Hotel Clark Budapest and the Leo Bistro restaurant located on the ground floor – which debuted in autumn 2021 – aiming to attract fans of contemporary art. Hotel Clark Budapest is the focal point for renewing the cultural and historical values of urban life while actively preserving traditions. The main goal of the biannual event series is to provide a cultural experience and refreshments for both domestic and international audiences, and it is committed to going beyond traditional hotel services. The idea and mission of promoting culture also represent significant social responsibility, as it inspires and encourages cultural development and acceptance of cultural diversity. The event organized in the hotel is also a tradition, as the legendary Lánchíd Café, which was a meeting place for intellectuals, writers, and poets, once stood in the location of Hotel Clark Budapest.  

’Colorful Korea’ exhibition

September 19 – December 8, 2024

The art exhibition series ‘Art Corner’ by Hotel Clark Budapest and Leo Bistro reaches a new milestone in September 2024. In response to the growing popularity of Korea around the world, a selection of colorful artworks by four Korean artists are showcased at Hotel Clark Budapest and Leo Bistro, as part of the Kálmán Makláry Fine Arts collection.

The more and more popular Art Corner exhibition series is now focusing on South Korea with stunning contemporary artworks selected by Kálmán Makláry Fine Arts gallery as collaborative partner. The four artists, Hur Kyung-Ae, Ilhwa Kim, Lim Dong-Lak, and Suh Jeong-Min, came from different generations, yet all reach back to traditional craftsmanship, cultural heritage, and Eastern philosophies. In many showcased artpieces Western techniques meet Eastern traditions, resulting in a unique, dual harmony. This represents a proud exploration of identity and adherence to tradition in a modern, progressive way.

Each of the four artists presents a vibrant color palette, with shades appearing within a basic color spectrum, making the surfaces more contrasting and exciting. Painting or sculpture? While exploring the use of hanji paper, we often find ourselves phrasing this question. Actually, the entire Colorful Korea exhibition pushes and crosses spatial, temporal, technical, or even philosophical boundaries. The dynamics of all four artists reflect a universal joy that transcends cultures. The Art Corner's South Korea-focused exhibition is the kind that spreads knowledge while awakening a zest for life.

Kálmán Makláry Fine Arts (kalmanmaklary.com)

Photo: Ilhwa Kim,‘Seed Universe’, 2015

’Colorful Korea’ exhibition

September 19 – December 8, 2024

The art exhibition series ‘Art Corner’ by Hotel Clark Budapest and Leo Bistro reaches a new milestone in September 2024. In response to the growing popularity of Korea around the world, a selection of colorful artworks by four Korean artists are showcased at Hotel Clark Budapest and Leo Bistro, as part of the Kálmán Makláry Fine Arts collection.

The more and more popular Art Corner exhibition series is now focusing on South Korea with stunning contemporary artworks selected by Kálmán Makláry Fine Arts gallery as collaborative partner. The four artists, Hur Kyung-Ae, Ilhwa Kim, Lim Dong-Lak, and Suh Jeong-Min, came from different generations, yet all reach back to traditional craftsmanship, cultural heritage, and Eastern philosophies. In many showcased artpieces Western techniques meet Eastern traditions, resulting in a unique, dual harmony. This represents a proud exploration of identity and adherence to tradition in a modern, progressive way.

Each of the four artists presents a vibrant color palette, with shades appearing within a basic color spectrum, making the surfaces more contrasting and exciting. Painting or sculpture? While exploring the use of hanji paper, we often find ourselves phrasing this question. Actually, the entire Colorful Korea exhibition pushes and crosses spatial, temporal, technical, or even philosophical boundaries. The dynamics of all four artists reflect a universal joy that transcends cultures. The Art Corner's South Korea-focused exhibition is the kind that spreads knowledge while awakening a zest for life.

Kálmán Makláry Fine Arts (kalmanmaklary.com)

Photo: Ilhwa Kim,‘Seed Universe’, 2015

Bak

'NEOAVANTGARD - Made In Hungary' group exhibition

March 21 - May 28, 2024

On March 21, 2024, the latest exhibition of the joint contemporary art exhibition series of Hotel Clark and Leo Bistro restaurant, Art Corner, opened. At the 'Neoavantgarde - Made in Hungary' exhibition realized hand in hand with the Virág Judit Gallery, we can wander through the world of Hungarian neoavantgarde fine art. The wonderful works of art by Imre Bak, Tamás Hencze, Ilona Keserü, Ferenc Lantos and István Nádler can be admired every day, from morning to night, in the restaurant and hotel spaces until May 28.

The curator and co-organizer of the exhibition is Anna Kelen, art historian of the Virág Judit Gallery. "The Hungarian neoavantgarde became a form and tool of political resistance in the 1960s. The so-called "second public" defined their existence, that is, they could organize exhibitions at their own expense in semi-official and unofficial venues. Given that the Art Corner is also not a classic exhibition space, the neoavantgarde artists could once again leave the walls of the galleries through the artefacts to give their audience something completely new." - said Anna Kelen.

The exhibition also participates in the „Műtárgyak Éjszakája Fesztivál”, within the framework of which an exclusive guided tour takes place on May 23, led by Anna Kelen.

viragjuditgaleria.hu
 

Photo: Imre Bak, ’Geisha’, 1990

János Fajó ’Ellipses’ exhibition

April 20 – June 20, 2023.

The Art Corner – a joint event series of Leo Bistro and Hotel Clark – opened its latest grand art exhibition on April 20, 2023, which features the leading figure of constructive geometry, János Fajó.

In collaboration with the Fajó Foundation and curator Zita Sárvári, the exhibition showcases screen prints, rare paintings, and sculptures related to the theme of ‘Ellipses’ by the artist who passed away in 2018.

“I know how significant transmission on the plane is a simplified-disassembled ellipse. Yet it excites, attracts, and stimulates composition; this cunning and mysterious two-dimensional form.” – János Fajó

János Fajó (1937-2018), an artist honoured with the Munkácsy and Kossuth prizes, has become a well-known name. His constructive geometric art is of vital importance in Hungarian art history. His rich oeuvre remains in the form of thousands of graphic works, screen prints, paintings, wall objects and sculptures. His last major institutional exhibition took place at the Műcsarnok in 1991, and since his death in 2018, smaller exhibitions focusing on his oeuvre and works have been held.

https://fajo.hu/
 

Photo: János Fajó. ’Ellipses Spillover Effect’

János Fajó ’Ellipses’ exhibition

April 20 – June 20, 2023.

The Art Corner – a joint event series of Leo Bistro and Hotel Clark – opened its latest grand art exhibition on April 20, 2023, which features the leading figure of constructive geometry, János Fajó.

In collaboration with the Fajó Foundation and curator Zita Sárvári, the exhibition showcases screen prints, rare paintings, and sculptures related to the theme of ‘Ellipses’ by the artist who passed away in 2018.

“I know how significant transmission on the plane is a simplified-disassembled ellipse. Yet it excites, attracts, and stimulates composition; this cunning and mysterious two-dimensional form.” – János Fajó

János Fajó (1937-2018), an artist honoured with the Munkácsy and Kossuth prizes, has become a well-known name. His constructive geometric art is of vital importance in Hungarian art history. His rich oeuvre remains in the form of thousands of graphic works, screen prints, paintings, wall objects and sculptures. His last major institutional exhibition took place at the Műcsarnok in 1991, and since his death in 2018, smaller exhibitions focusing on his oeuvre and works have been held.

https://fajo.hu/
 

Photo: János Fajó. ’Ellipses Spillover Effect’

Pol Kurucz ‘Plastic Dreams’ exhibition

October 20 – December 1, 2022.

In the fall of 2022, the world-famous Hungarian-French photographer, Pol Kurucz’s exhibition titled ‘Plastic Dreams’ opened its doors, organized by Hotel Clark and Leo Bistro. At the iconic exhibition – which went completely against traditional photographic norms – of the artist who divides his life between Brazil, the United States of America, and Hungary, we were able to see artworks that have not been shown in our country before.

After New York, Miami, London, and Los Angeles, Pol’s first major domestic exhibition took place at Art Corner. Thanks to the joint work of the artist’s local management, The ArtSommelier, the collaboration was also a co-thinking process. We have already seen Pol Kurucz’s distinctive photos and digital art at prestigious exhibitions, leading fashion magazines, and renowned galleries worldwide. When creating his works, he collaborated with world-famous athletes and musicians such as Mike Tyson, Nicki Minaj, Saweeti, and H.E.R., among others.

Pol’s images have appeared in more than a hundred publications, including prestigious magazines such as Vogue, ELLE, Glamour, Marie Claire, GQ, The Guardian, CNN online, BBC online, Dazed, Paper, Hunger, Sleek, and Nylon.

https://www.polkurucz.com/

 

Photo: Pol Kurucz. ‘Angel’

Norbert Zsólyomi ’UnSeen’ exhibition

April 1 – May 31, 2022.

The second stop of the cultural initiative, launched in September 2021, was aimed at lovers of photo and beauty ideals through the artistic creations of Zsólyomi Norbert’s exhibition entitled ‘UnSeen’, which ran from April 1 to May 31, 2022.

We can come across Zsólyomi Norbert’s photos on the covers and compilations of the most outstanding Hungarian fashion magazines every day, but it is a fact that we can see a few of his works where there is “no client”. In contrast, at the ‘UnSeen’ exhibition, we could only encounter creations that convey Norbert’s own, external-influence-free artistic ars poetica.

“In my work, I always look for beauty in everything and everyone. With the photos in the exhibition, I aimed to find the aspects that I consider beautiful in the processed topics. I presented only new photos, and some of my paintings and mixed media works were also visible, in which I experiment with the fusion of photography and painting.” said the artist.

zsolyomi
 

Photo: Norbert Zsólyomi. ’UnSeen’

Norbert Zsólyomi ’UnSeen’ exhibition

April 1 – May 31, 2022.

The second stop of the cultural initiative, launched in September 2021, was aimed at lovers of photo and beauty ideals through the artistic creations of Zsólyomi Norbert’s exhibition entitled ‘UnSeen’, which ran from April 1 to May 31, 2022.

We can come across Zsólyomi Norbert’s photos on the covers and compilations of the most outstanding Hungarian fashion magazines every day, but it is a fact that we can see a few of his works where there is “no client”. In contrast, at the ‘UnSeen’ exhibition, we could only encounter creations that convey Norbert’s own, external-influence-free artistic ars poetica.

“In my work, I always look for beauty in everything and everyone. With the photos in the exhibition, I aimed to find the aspects that I consider beautiful in the processed topics. I presented only new photos, and some of my paintings and mixed media works were also visible, in which I experiment with the fusion of photography and painting.” said the artist.

zsolyomi
 

Photo: Norbert Zsólyomi. ’UnSeen’

Boglárka Nagy ’Bon Voyage’ exhibition

September 30 – November 30, 2021.

Boglárka Nagy’s exhibition entitled “BON VOYAGE” was the first stop of the Art Corner event series, which took place in the hotel lobby from September 30 to November 30, 2021.

The main theme of the exhibition was travel, which was an even more pronounced basic human desire and need in the post-Covid period. The artist displayed some beautiful, lyrical highlights from Japan and the exotic culture of the Far East in the paintings before proceeding on to the pure transcendence and exquisite calligraphy of the orange-coloured deserts of the Middle East, then moving on to the “dolce vita” lifestyle of southern Europe and the bright azure of the Riviera.

The dominance of light and the limitless sky characterized all of Boglárka Nagy’s works presented here, portraying freedom and a love of life even more skillfully than we have seen from her before.

https://boglarkanagy.com/en/

 

Photo: Boglárka Nagy. ‘Bon Voyage’