Showing the heart and soul of Hungary
- Source: Global Times
- [11:07 August 30 2010]
- Comments
Portrait of a Teenage Soldier by Capa. Photo: Cai Xianmin
By Li Jun
Some of the incredible pictures of Robert Capa, the greatest war photojournalist of the 20th century, are now on show in Shanghai. While other exhibitions of his work tour the world's capital cities, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) in Shanghai offers visitors a unique look at his Asian works in Faces and Fights which will run until September 5.
The first Capa exhibition in China, this is part of the Hungary Art Forum, an exhibition of varied Hungarian works complementing the Hungary Pavilion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai and showcasing "the brains of the entire nation of Hungary," said Laszlo Goz, director of the Budapest Music Center.
Hungary is famous for its culture although it is thousands of miles from China. Culture, art and creativity have connected the nation to China for centuries. One Hungarian, in particular, left his footprints in Shanghai decades ago - the architectural masterpieces of Laszlo Hudec are scattered throughout the city.
Liberty and Love, a poem by the legendary Hungarian poet Sandor Petofi, is regularly recited by Chinese students and the music of Liszt, Bartok and Kodaly is performed by leading Chinese musicians throughout the world.
The exhibition consists of black and white pictures by Capa who covered five different wars during his 41 years of life. In 1938, Capa traveled to Wuhan, Hubei Province, to document the resistance to the Japanese invasion. In 1947, Capa co-founded Magnum Photos, the first international agency for freelance photographers.
Most of Capa's photographs capture the faces and feelings of unknown people. "During his six-month stay in China, Capa took pictures of ordinary soldiers and citizens as well as government officials, and these are now on show in this exhibition," curator Beatrix Cs Lengyel said. "When we were told to prepare an exhibition for Shanghai, we picked the photographs Capa took in China and Vietnam during the war to present an Asian approach."
Beside Capa's exhibition stand the other sections of the Hungary Art Forum. Facing Capa's photographs is a selection of works from 11 contemporary Hungarian photographers. Entitled Live Sync, the exhibition is a big contrast to Capa's works, both in color and themes. "It is interesting to have such contrasts, and let Shanghai people understand our country," Lengyel said.
Other Hungarian treats include architecture and fashion design. Visitors can explore three buildings designed by Hudec, who in 1916 jumped from a train as he was being transported to Siberia and eventually made his way to Shanghai.
Ten 1.5-meter models of Gombocs, just like the central element of the Hungary Pavilion, are on display. Gombocs are three-dimensional shapes that will reorient themselves to lie on a stable face and were only recently discovered by two Hungarian mathematicians.
And fashion lovers can also get a feel for contemporary Hungarian designs. The Hungarian fashion designer Kattie Zoob's collection from the Shanghai Fashion Week late last year, is on display near the entrance.
Date: Until September 5, 10 am to 9:30 pm
Venue: Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art 上海当代艺术馆
Address: Gate 7, People's Park, 231 Nanjing Road West
南京西路231号人民公园7号门内
Admission: Free
Call 6327-9900 for details
