An exhibition titled Áron Tamási 125 opened on Monday in Budapest, MTI reports. The series of paintings presenting the oeuvre of the writer born 125 years ago can be seen on the Andrássy út side of the office building of the Hungarian Academy of Arts (MMA).

János Árpád Potápi, the Prime Minister's Secretary of State responsible for national policy, highlighted at the opening of the fence exhibition related to the Áron Tamási commemorative year: the figure of the writer still connects Hungarians, he is still one of the most read Hungarian authors. With the programs of the commemorative year, attention will also be drawn to Transylvanian Hungarians and Székelys, he said.

The State Secretariat for National Policy has been announcing commemorative years since 2016, he said, emphasizing that this year's, which was launched on 22 January, Hungarian Culture Day, in Marosvásárhely, is of outstanding value among them. At the same time, a series of events has also started in Budapest, within the framework of which many programs, including academic competitions, are being organized. He emphasized: their goal is to win over as many children and young people as possible and make the events of the commemorative year popular. We are talking about a popular writer who needs to be introduced again and again in Hungarian society, since culture is something that needs to be learned over and over again, he emphasized.

He added: that is why the traveling exhibition was created, which has already been opened in Csíksomlyo, Farkaslaka, Sátoraljaújhely, Csíkcsomortán, Gyula, Mikháza, and Tusnádfürdő, and will be presented in many locations not only during the commemorative year, but also after that - in the Carpathian Basin and in the diaspora.

The building of the Hungarian Academy of Arts under 101 Andrássy road in 2018 (Photo: Júlia Kozics/pestbuda.hu)

Gábor Richly, the general secretary of the MMA, talked about the life of Áron Tamási in the 20th century. can also be interpreted as a historical document of the 20th century. Starting from Székelyland, visiting America and settling in Hungary, he worked tirelessly all the way to create a bridge between the motherland, the Carpathian basin and the Hungarians of the world, he said. He added: the exhibition, realized with the cooperation of the Tamási Áron Foundation and the House of Magyarság, presents some significant stages of the writer's career, using numerous quotes and contemporary photographs.

He said: the MMA also organized other cultural programs in the commemorative year. He recalled: in March, the Áron Tamási album published by the MMA publishing house was presented, which the public will be able to get to know in the writer's native village, Farkaslaka and Cluj.

As he listed, the study volume of László Ablonczy, which deals with the theatrical performances of the Tamási plays under the title The Fates of Áron Tamási, will be published, in addition, the new edition of the Ábel trilogy with illustrations by Zoltán Szilágyi Varga, a visual artist born in Transylvania, and a portrait film titled In memoriam Áron Tamási will be made. In cooperation with the Hungarian Writers' Association, an essay and short story writing contest was recently announced, for which the entries are expected until September 30, he added.

  Magda Szabó, President of the Tamási Áron Public Foundation, János Árpád Potápi, State Secretary for National Policy at the Prime Minister's Office, and Gábor Richly, Secretary General of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, at the opening of the Tamási Áron 125 fence exhibition (Photo: MTI/Tibor Illyés)

On the occasion of Áron Tamási's birthday, on September 20, a commemoration of Áron Tamási will be held in Lakitelek together with the Lakitelek Folk College. On 27 September, the audience can see the Sütő András Baráti Egyesület's performance entitled Tündökletes világ in the Vigado in Pest, and together with the Tamási Áron Cultural Association, they are organizing an autumn pilgrimage for their academics to Farkaslaka - he listed the programs of the commemorative year.

At the opening, the figure of Áron Tamási was recalled by the writer László Fábián Vári, head of the Literary Department of the MMA. The exhibition of 17 paintings related to the life of Áron Tamási (1897–1966) is on view until October.

Source: MTI

Cover photo: At the opening of the Tamási Áron 125 fence exhibition, in front of the office building of the Hungarian Academy of Arts on July 25, 2022 (Photo: MTI/Tibor Illyés)