Art Gallery of Paks

Following the main street of Paks, turning left in the crossroad next to the energetic vocational school and turning right immediately, we reach a rusty building with glass walls, which has a big glass entrance. The former Packing House of Paks completely changed, from an industrial building it became a characteristic institution with a cultural function. It was established in 1991, and in 2007, it moved to its recent location, which is also important for local history reasons. The Art Gallery of Paks is rightly pride of the town, because it is recognised nationally, it has a significant collection of modern art, and it is in European level. The collection is growing since 1980. Beside the permanent exhibition, grandiose travelling exhibitions are also visitable, which attrack great attendance. The founder of the collection and the museum is Károly Halász sculptor and painter, prize-winner of Munkácsy award.

The Art Gallery of Paks was established from zero, thanks to the founder’s stubbornness and artistic will. Rethinking the summer art camp of Dunakömlőd, which was operating in the 1970’s, the Visual Experimental Artificial Base (VIKAT = Vizuális Kísérleti Alkotótelep in hungarian) was born, with the leading of Károly Halász and Ferenc Lantos (painter, graphic artist and art-pedagogue), later, Mária Apagyi music-pedagogue also joint as a leader. The Artificial Estate had been operating since 1980, it’s original footsteps were established by famous artists as Imre Bak, János Fajó, Ilona Keserű, István Nádler and Waldemár Mattis Teutsch. According to this, an intellectual and creative workshop of contemporary artists was born between Budapest and Pécs. Hungarian artists, who were finding again a direct connection with the international events of art, took a part in the tasks of the workshop. The art of the 20st century is defined by one of the main basic thesis of Paul Klee’s, which is „Art does not reproduce the visible, rather, it makes visible.” The new approach and artistic expression of visible and reality, often found incomprehension in people. The continous operation of Experimental Artificial Base was not authorized, because of cultural policy reasons. Following the method of the Museum of Graz, the summer art base expected from the invited young artists, to leave an art piece in Paks in return for participation and accomodation. Thanks to this method, the collection was expanded with significant art pieces and gifts.

The officially registered Art Gallery of Paks as an art museum of national coverage was opened in 1991, in the classic style Erzsébet Grand Hotel, which was a relevant national monument. Beside the works of the art base (constructive, geometrical art pieces), paintings and plastics from Paks and the neighbourhood were also presented. In relation with this collection, the discussion of new visual communication forms had started. Éva Takács and János Ritter by using the modern methods of visual training, established an art school for primary school and secondary school students. The Erzsébet Grand Hotel had been giving home for the exhibition place of the hungarian contemporary and fine arts for nearly 14 years. In 2007, the Art Gallery of Paks and its collection moved to a new building, to the former Packing House of Paks. The 1100 square metre place industrial hall was reconstructed and renovated by the architectural plans of Irén Járomi and Gyula Kiss, Ybl-award architectures. They used the architectural and technical results of the 21st century and created a new complex art center with a new type of organization.

Nowadays, the more than 20 years old Art Gallery of Paks is the exhibition spot of the european classic and contemporary artists. The focus of the exhibition and the colletction are the constructive concrete, the minimal, the conceptional arts and also experimental films. With the expension of the museumpedagogy work of the Art Gallery, it could become a national methodology base.