Contemporaries showcase their work in Balatonfüred
It is inspiring to see more and more art projects and events moving to the shores of Lake Balaton every year. After a while, holidaymakers are not only looking for direct waterfront experiences: it is also nice to refresh themselves with cultural programmes in the heat. The Pintér Auction House is organising its summer auction in Balatonfüred for the 12th time under the slogans Balaton, Summer, Love, and in addition to the returning regulars, every year a good number of domestic and foreign holidaymakers and tourists relaxing on the northern shore are eager to attend the event.
From the point of view of the auction material, it is also worth recalling the period and zeitgeist when the image of the Balaton summer was significantly transformed by the boom in popularity of the lake. This process was most evident in the 1960s, when works that embodied the retro lifestyle were created, which are now particularly popular among art lovers. Among the lots to be sold at the upcoming auction are Béla Czene’s composition of modern women walking on the pier of Badacsony, József Varga’s beach scene, Károly Rökk’s camping site in the fields with colourful tents, and Ferenc Czinke’s vividly coloured life in Tihany.
In keeping with the gallery’s profile, the auction is once again rich in works by contemporary artists, with around 90 works waiting to find a new owner. Some of the works directly evoke the atmosphere of Lake Balaton, such as István Regős’s Fish in the Water or Ábel Péterfy’s Three Colours of Sailboats, while others – such as Gábor Szenteleki’s Uncle Tibi and Aunt Marika bathing in Balcsi or Pál Hecker’s Two Old Hippies with Hay Fever Wiping Each Other’s Noses – are not without humour. A special feature of the auction is Péter Weiler’s almost 2 metre long model of the sailboat “Wind” on Lake Balaton, inspired by a childhood experience. In the selection of lots, special attention has been paid to the inclusion of post-war Hungarian artists – currently the most valuable on the art market – with reproductions of prints by Judit Reigl, Imre Bak, Tamás Konok, János Fajó and István Nádler, which even young collectors have a good chance of bidding for.
But it is not only pictures of Lake Balaton that will be auctioned off by the Pintér Auction House team: the public will also be able to see works of art depicting water and seaside scenes, sunny landscapes and towns, folk life and vibrant summers at the August auction and the exhibition that will precede it. Examples include László Mednyánszky’s Waterfront Landscape, Lipót Böhm’s Tranquil Hour (evoking the moonlit night of a carefree holiday), landscapes by Antal Ligeti and Pál Molnár C., Dezső Bardócz’s Fishing Boy and Gábor Miklóssy’s Nude Towel in the Bathroom. In addition to the two-dimensional works, the exhibition also includes a large number of sculptures and Zsolnay ceramics in various techniques and materials, as well as jewellery from different periods.
The full auction catalogue is available on the auction house’s website, but a printed catalogue is also available in the Falk Miksa Street shop and in the Vaszary Gallery. The auction can be viewed in two separate rooms of the Vaszary Gallery, from Monday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. The live auction, open to all interested parties, will take place on Saturday 13 August from 18:00, also in the Vaszary Gallery. The auction is open to bid in person, by commission, by phone or online via the independent art trading portal axioart.com, which will also broadcast the summer event live.
