Inebriation in art

Our exhibition showcases works of Hungarian and European art, ranging from Renaissance to contemporary pieces, while presenting different aspects of alcohol consumption through various thematic units, from the joys of celebration to the darker sides of excessive drinking and addiction, based on the curatorial concept of Emese Révész. The first section of the exhibition presents diverse depictions of Dionysus-Bacchus, the Greek-Roman god of wine and revelry, including works by Picasso and contemporary Hungarian artists. The second section features paintings of the locations and modes of alcohol consumption, with images of taverns, family drinking scenes and the hallucinatory delirium of distilleries. In the third section, we encounter mainly 19th-century works in which drunken revelry becomes a characteristic feature of national identity, particularly the Hungarian character. The final section presents numerous examples of persuasive and agitational art, particularly posters, some promoting alcohol consumption for commercial purposes, while others argue against excessive drinking in connection with periodic temperance movements. This includes two engravings by William Hogarth, as well as some of the best posters created by students of METU on the topic of "Sober November," supported by the HAB scholarship.

In addition to paintings and graphic works, the exhibition also showcases site-specific installations by József Szolnoki and sculptures by Róbert Borsos made from beer cans. Among the Hungarian artists featured are András Baranyay, Sándor Bihari, János Jankó, Béla Kondor, Gábor Pásztor, Pál Szinyei Merse, Károly Lotz, Csaba Rékassy, and contemporary artists such as Kristóf Balogh, Ákos Bánki, Imre Bukta, József Gaál, Juli Jásdi, Endre Kecső, Olívia Kovács, István Nyári, István Orosz, Dóra Szöllősi, and Péter Ujházi.

This is the first exhibition in Hungary to focus on this theme. It is accompanied by wine tastings, wine dinners, toast-led guided tours, and numerous programs, like lectures and discussions related to the theme of alcohol.

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