The Hungarian Institute for Art and Culture has a long tradition for encouraging the preservation and sharing of photographs from travels across the world, through competitions, exhibitions and the publishing of photo albums.
In 2011, the Institute cooperated with the Hungarian Friend Group in Norway to host an international photo competition. The objective of the competition was to capture visual travel experiences from both Norway and Hungary and to share these glimpses of nature, traditions and city life with others through exhibitions and a photo book.
- The photographs that can be seen here today represent the best of our two countries, and they also prove that Hungary and Norway have a lot in common; a shared love for our beautiful nature and landscape scenery, the extraordinary wildlife and urban cityscapes, a love for the traditions but also openness towards the future, the Norwegian Ambassador to Hungary, H.E. Siri Ellen Sletner said when opening the exhibition.
Fotó: Marte Finess Tretvoll A total of 167 persons from both countries submitted photographs to the competition, depicting a wide variety of motifs, from the serenity of the Balaton lake in Hungary to the majestic wildlife of the Norwegian mountains. The 74 best photographs were included in the photo book
Travels Across the World 2011 – Norway and Hungary, which is available for purchase at the Heritage House.
A professional jury consisting of members from both countries received almost 1500 photos, and had a difficult task in selecting only five winners. Four of them received their award during the exhibition opening at the Heritage House, and the fifth received his award when the very same exhibition was opened in Oslo in November 2011 by the Hungarian ambassador to Norway, H.E. Dr. Géza Jeszenszky.
Even though the motifs vary, what all the photos have in common is that they provide a glimpse into the rich culture and nature of our two countries.
- It is my sincere hope that the photographs in this exhibition will inspire you all to delve deeper into and explore more of the riches our two countries have to offer. At best, photography can do exactly this; broaden our horizons and let us travel anywhere without moving a centimeter, the Norwegian Ambassador said during her speech.
The photo album is available for purchase at the Hungarian Institute for Culture and Arts, Győri Lajos on gyoril@mmikl.hu
You can watch all the photos in the exhibition here:
http://www.mafosz.hu/Palyzatok/2011/No_Mo_kiall/index.html