Eternally Júlia – Faces and Question Marks. Temporary exhibition

This year marks not only the 170th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence of 1848-1849, but also the 190th anniversary of the birth and the 150th anniversary of the death of Júlia Szendrey who played an active role in the revolution.

The exhibition built on the basis of the rich stock of National Széchényi Library, completed with relics belonging to the collection of Petőfi Literary Museum, will present Júlia Szendrey’s role played in literature and private life. Displayed will be Júlia Szendrey’s letters, diary fragments, poems and Andersen translations, and the exhibition will also give a glimpse into the garment and social history of the era, with the help of period newspapers and their appendices.

Even nowadays, Júlia Szendrey’s judgment is based on stereotypes inherited from the late 19th century and early 20th century; former related literature focused mainly on her compulsory female roles and private life, and not so much on her literary oeuvre.

The aim of the exhibition is to raise new questions, approaches and interpretation options, by way of showing contemporary reflections, late 19th and early 20th century receptions, as well as text editions, published since the early 2010s, featuring a fresh perspective.

One of the representative forms of contemporary artistic interpretations, reflecting on Júlia Szendrey’s versatile personality, literary heritage and associated images, is the five-piece exhibition decorating installation set, that has been made by the students of Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest (MOME), studying at the Department of Textile Design.

Opening ceremony: Tuesday November 20, 2018, 4 p.m. Facebook event

Venue: Floor 5 of NSZL, National Relic exhibition space
The exhibition will be open until March 9, 2019, Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., during the opening hours of the Library. Entrance is free of charge.

Poster of the exhibition