VIDÉK-VÁROS VISZONYOK / Mélyi József & Hevesi László - Szoborinduló - Szántó Kovács János utóéletei

The new performance by art historian József Mélyi and actor László Hevesi centers on János Szántó Kovács, the leader of the agrarian-socialist movement in Hódmezővásárhely at the end of the 19th century. Through his figure, a historical panorama unfolds, offering a review of the historical and cultural transformations in Hungary over the past century and a half.

The performance—composed of elements of prose, poetry, music, and dance—traces historical transformations from Szántó Kovács’s imprisonment, through the rise of his cult of personality and his exploitation for political purposes, to the partial collective amnesia that followed the change of regime. This seven-part overview is accompanied by songs that originated “on the lips of the people,” as well as photographs and film clips—including archival footage documenting the events and scenes from Miklós Jancsó’s film *The People Still Ask*.

A key role is played by József Somogyi’s statue of Szántó Kovács, erected in Hódmezővásárhely in 1965, which the Kis Varsó artist collective transported to Amsterdam in 2004 for the duration of an exhibition.

Creators and Performers: László Hevesi, József Mélyi

Dramaturg: Anna Gaál

Performers and Contributors: Sára Boncsér, Anna Gaál

Special thanks to: Bianka Dobó, András Király, Kis Varsó (András Gálik, Bálint Havas), Péter Korniss, Ádám Szabó

Cover: KIS VARSÓ: INSTAURATIO! - Monument contra Cathedral, 2004. Copyright © Little Warsaw