Keeping the Balance

Keeping the Balance is the first temporary exhibition at the Ludwig Museum in Budapest following the lockdown, presenting about 60 works from the Art Collection Telekom. Most of the works are by artists of Eastern European roots. Originally planned to open in early June, the exhibition is a clear sign of an attentive and careful return to normalcy in compliance with all required health regulations.

How can we find and keep the balance in a complex, contradictory and often conflict-laden reality? The question in the focus of the exhibition at once implies hope and formulates a statement that artistic discourse and confrontation can provoke thoughts and convey experiences which are specifically helpful in finding this balance.

To keep the balance, it is important to distinguish contradictions in urging issues, truth from lies, important things from insignificant ones to make smart and well-founded decisions. Art can and does make this possible.

The concept of the exhibition was developed by the curators back in 2019. Since then the world has lost its former balance. The fragility of life has become omnipresent, even in welfare states. The economy, healthcare and social systems, the cohesion between the nations of Europe are in deep crisis, and so are social relations and personal freedom. The world has to regain its balance once again, which also entails a kind of fresh start. Now, there is the opportunity not to repeat the same mistakes, to dare to seek and employ new models for our coexistence with the planet.

Eastern European artists have recently experienced the sweeping transformation of socialist-communist dictatorships. They were involved in the transition to free market economy, and often had to succumb to unrestrained capitalism as well. They witnessed revolutions, wars, irresponsible economy and poverty, and they also often saw the dreams of their parents shatter.

Curated by Krisztina Szipöcs, Nathalie Hoyos and Rainald Schumacher

Exhibiting artists:

Nevin Aladag, Sasha Auerbakh, Szilard Cseke, Danica Dakic, Aleksandra Domanovic, Petra Feriancova, Igor Grubic, Aneta Grzeszykowska, Nilbar Güres, Petrit Halilaj, Flaka Haliti, Vladimir Houdek, Hristina Ivanoska, Pravdoliub Ivanov, Sanja Ivekovic, Hortensia Mi Kafchin, Sejla Kameric, Lito Kattou, Zsofia Keresztes, Little Warsaw, Eva Kotatkova, Maria Kulikovska, Equals Collective, Nino Kvrivishvili, Piotr Lakomy, Brilant Milazimi, Ciprian Muresan, Vlad Nanca, Roman Ondak, Paulina Olovska, Dan Perjovschi, Agnieszka Polska, Stepan Ryabchenko, Slavs and Tatars, Iza Tarasewicz, Krassimir Terziev, Martina Vacheva

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