Gallery of Young Artists takes us to the casbah

Photos, paintings of Algeria on display

Written by Christopher Osterberg

The Algerian-Hungarian Friendship Association and the Gallery of Young Artists has organised an exhibition of photos and paintings dedicated to Algeria. The opening was performed by the Algerian Ambassador, Ali Mokrani, at the gallery in the Munkácsy Room of Hotel Benczur, 35 Benczur utca, District VI, on September 11, with the display on until September 30.

On show are photos by János Nagy and paintings by Péter Bézi, who operates the Gallery of Young Artists, and Mihály Gál. Ambassador Mokrani told the gathering: “I think that organising this cultural artistic event was a marvellous idea and a real testimony of the long-standing friendly relations existing between Algeria and Hungary and their people.

“Culture and arts are an important field of the bilateral ties. Let me recall at this point the cultural activities carried out by the famous Hungarian composer and ethnomusicologist [Bartók Béla] who travelled in 1913 to Biskra in Algeria to research Algerian folk music and he also took pictures during this trip. His cultural heritage is living and will forever mark an important milestone in Algerian-Hungarian cultural ties.”

The ambassador offered his thanks and recognition for the Hungarian friends who had taken the initiative to display the photos taken during their visit to Algeria. “Indeed, it is a formidable idea which is appreciated in its just value through this photo exhibition.

“I encourage these kind of cultural activities which are further reinforcing the Algerian-Hungarian Friendship, and are allowing our Hungarian friends to get to know better and discover the culture and the natural beauties of Algeria and its multicultural background, with many of them listed by UNESCO as Heritage of Humanity.”

Mokrani wished happiness, prosperity and progress for the friendly people of Hungary. “This nation showed solidarity with the Algerian people in their national cause during the difficult years and contributed to the economic development of my country after gaining independence by sending thousands of experts and offering scholarships for the Algerian students, contributing therefore to the strengthening of the human capacity building in my country.”

As soon as the COVID pandemic allowed, the Algerian Embassy in Budapest planned to organise a cultural program for Hungarian and Algerian artists, with the aim of promoting close people-to-people ties and an exchange of the rich bilateral cultural heritage.

Present at the opening was painter Ferenc Kesztyüs, at 84 years old the eldest member of the Gallery of Young Artists.