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HAB's newest exhibition 'Conversion. Radical Encounters' explores unexpected moments that can transform our lives, the absurdity of crisis situations, and the depths of internal transformation.
On 17 September, Hungarian Art & Business (HAB), supported by the MBH Bank Art Foundation, opens its doors to its latest large-scale temporary exhibition, 'Conversion. Radical Encounters'. The exhibition explores unexpected moments that can transform our lives, the absurdity of crisis situations, and the depths of internal transformation. A special feature of the exhibition is that works by Old Masters and contemporary international and domestic star artists are presented in dialogue with each other. Visitors are invited to reflect on their own experiences of fate-changing events.
Each of our lives can be defined by a moment when an external or internal event changes the way we see ourselves and the world. HAB's latest exhibition approaches the concept of a turning point — a biblical reference — from multiple perspectives, showing how the experience of change appears in religious, cultural, psychological, and artistic discourses and how these experiences shape individual and collective identity.
'Conversion. Radical Encounters' initiates engagement and dialogue
Curated by HAB’s artistic director, Délia Vékony PhD, and art historian Dr. Zoltán Körösvölgyi, the exhibition does not merely illustrate change; a significant number of the works actively engage viewers, encouraging them to reflect on their own experiences. The dramatic scenes of the Old Masters, the conceptual experiments of contemporary art and the layering of different media offer visitors the opportunity to engage with the subject through their own experiences.
The exhibition aims to initiate a dialogue about what happens when the foundations of human existence are called into question. The works, which span different eras and media, reflect on spiritual conversions, personal crises, and cultural paradigm shifts. Experiencing a turning point is often elusive, yet it is something we all have in common,” emphasised Dr Zoltán Körösvölgyi, co-curator of the exhibition.
The exhibition features works by twenty-seven Hungarian and international artists, including: Berndnaut Smilde, Mark Wallinger, Keith Milow, John Maybury, Erik Mátrai, András Mohácsi, Sára Richter, Eszter Júlia Kuzma and Éva Boglárka Zellei, among others.
Radical change, inner work, foundation-shaking experience
The exhibition explores the concept of a turning point through six thematic chapters, offering different perspectives on radical change. Mark Wallinger’s video Angel, for example, depicts a unique 'landing' experience balancing on the border between uncertainty and transcendence. Berndnaut Smilde’s Nimbus series captures artificially created clouds in unique spaces, exploring the relationship between transience and revelation. Meanwhile, Erik Mátrai and Noh Sanghee’s installations create contemplative spaces, and Eszter Júlia Kuzma’s monumental textile work, 'Bestial Sanctum', involves visitors in the experience of ritual creation.
“For me, the exhibition is about inner transformation. Rather than depicting the experience of turning the tables, most of the works invite the viewer to let go of their previous ideas about the world, step outside their usual frames of thought and experience the power of radical encounters. This process can shake the foundations of our personality, but this is precisely where the possibility of true transformation lies,” said Délia Vékony, PhD, HAB’s artistic director and co-curator of the exhibition, titled "Conversion. Radical Encounters.'
The free exhibition can be visited between September 17 and November 16, and in connection with it, HAB is also preparing exciting additional programs for those interested, including guided tours and lectures.
Photos: Hungarian Art & Business
