Budapest Zigetvar's Key, an exhibition organized by Zigetvar Municipality, Zigetvar International Artists Community, and Budapest Yunus Emre Institute, launched. The Mayor of Zigetvar Dr. Peter Vass, Member of Parliament Csaba Nagy, T.R. Budapest Ambassador Ahmet Akif Oktay, Turkish States Organization Budapest Office Head Ambassador Janos Hovari, and many guests and artists attended the opening on February 23, 2022, in the Yunus Emre Institute exhibition hall.

At the exhibition's opening, Mayor of Zigetvar Dr. Peter Vass stated that he is extremely glad that the international art community's exhibition, which has been presented in Zigetvar for years, is now held at the Yunus Emre Institute in Budapest.

THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN TURKEY AND HUNGARY IS BASED ON LOVE AND RESPECT

Dr. Vass touch on the historical relationship between Turks and Hungarians, by saying:

“We, Hungarians and Turks, have gathered to celebrate the opening of an exhibition of works created in Zigetvar, the scene of the fierce battles between the armies of Zrnyi and Kanuni 456 years ago. And now our nations appreciate and sympathize with one another in a peaceful manner."

Dr. Vass, by reminding that one of the expressions of friendship between the two countries is the Hungarian Turkish Friendship Park opened in Zigetvar last year, said:

“Bronze busts of Count Miklós Zrnyi and Suleiman the Magnificent stand side by side for peace in this park. Let us remember the Turkish House in Zigetvar, Yunus Emre Square opened in 2021, and the hundred roses planted in the castle that half of which were supplied by the Yunus Emre Institute and the other half by our city. All of these instances represent both countries' efforts to achieve peace. Because we all want to live in harmony, with mutual respect for our histories.”

Dr. Vass wished both nations long, peaceful, and beautiful years, wishing the years of peace to continue for many more years.

In her speech, Klara Holmos, the exhibition's curator and the head of the art community, made the following statements:

“Our art community is a place to think, work, and have fun, in other words, a place to live together. Similarly, it is a place where we may collect professional information and experiences, as well as connect with our artist friends. For the past thirty years, we have given our artists who have been active in the art world the opportunity to create new works. I am honored to be able to exhibit the works we created in Zigetvar's international art colony at the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center, and I would like to thank them for this opportunity.”

ZIGETVAR: CENTRAL EUROPE'S HISTORY AND NATIONAL MEMORY'S SYMBOLIC SPACE

Zigetvar is known as a symbol of Hungary's and Central Europe's national and historical memory. There are motifs reflecting the spirit of the age in the city center, which continues to exist as a place of living memory. The pieces in the show are intended to reflect Zigetvar's dual nature, which both has roots in the past and carries the spirit of our time. The exhibition, which includes around 40 paintings, is open through March 18th.