In addition to permanent exhibitions, Debrecen’s museums periodically host exciting temporary exhibitions that offer a unique insight into the city’s local and cultural history, as well as the mysteries of classical, modern and contemporary art. Current exhibitions explore the history of the Hussars and the bombardment of Debrecen 80 years ago, the fascinating world of monochrome painting and books, emblematic landscapes and still lifes from the last hundred years, and special pieces from an 18th century family of goldsmiths.
Current temporary exhibitions in Debrecen
175 years – 175 objects
1849 – Hussars, soldiers of freedom
In 2024 we will commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence of 1848/49. The year 1849 was of great importance for Debrecen, as the dethronement of the Habsburg dynasty, the final drafting and proclamation of the Declaration of Independence, the election of Kossuth as Governor are all historical events with a Debrecen connection. The Déri Museum is paying tribute to the 175 years of these events with a commemorative exhibition. The exhibition will also show details of the history of the legendary Hungarian military unit, the Hussars. The exhibition includes pallets, chain mail, neck armor, deer, various copies of the Declaration of Independence and the accompanying minutes.
The exhibition is open until 7 July 2024 in the Dome Room and Gallery of the Déri Museum.
Scorched city
Bombing of Debrecen on 2 June 1944
On the 80th anniversary of the first bombing of Debrecen on 2 June 1944, the Déri Museum opened a new temporary exhibition entitled The Scorched City – The Bombing of Debrecen on 2 June 1944. The city, which had been spared the ravages of war until then, was shocked by the Allied air attack. The Déri Museum’s exhibition depicts this fateful day and the devastation, but also commemorates the rescue efforts, the victims and the hard work of the determined inhabitants of the town who made it livable again. The exhibition is made even more memorable by the words of László Timár, 93, who lived through the bombing with his family.
The exhibition is on display at the Déri Museum until 31 December 2024.
100 years of nature. Landscapes and still lifes from the collection of MBH Bank
One of the most important issues for humanity in the 21st century is nature. How to relate to this wonderful resource, how to take care of it, how to help it renew itself? The relationship with nature is multifaceted: it can be seen as the basis of life, as the raw material of civilization, as an aesthetic experience and as a universal connection with a higher order. This selection from the MBH Bank Collection, which began in the 1990s, explores this crucial and complex issue through masterpieces of Hungarian art. The exhibition of emblematic pieces from the history of art is on show for the first time in the country at MODEM.
The exhibition will be on display at MODEM until 21 July 2024.
Answers without questions
Solo exhibition of Kristóf József Balogh
Kristóf József Balogh is a visual artist born in Debrecen, currently living and working in Budapest. His first institutional solo exhibition takes place in the newly opened Project Space at the MODEM Center for Modern and Contemporary Art.
The exhibition is on display at MODEM until 7 July 2024.
How old are you?
MODEM’s public collection exhibition on generational theory
How old are you? is a permanent exhibition of the collection of the MODEM Center for Modern and Contemporary Art in Debrecen. The exhibition is based on the collection of the last 18 years, the results of the Debrecen International Artists’ Colony and the donations of artists, which is still constantly evolving. The collection was created following a curatorial selection based on the generational research approach and is presented in various artistic media in relation to the professional portfolio of the institution.
The exhibition is on display at MODEM until 31 December 2024.
Makropædia
A contemporary reading of the book
Makropædia is an attempt to provide a reflective overview of the role of the book in our culture by presenting cord documents and contemporary artworks on loan from the collections of the Reformed College of Debrecen and the Alföldi Printing House. How has the book influenced science as a means of communication? How do we think about education now that textbooks are losing ground to smart devices? Can we preserve our book heritage in the age of digital humanities databases? MODEM’s joint exhibition with the Museum and Great Library of the Reformed College of Debrecen is a collection of 17th-18th century volumes, surviving artefacts from the College’s professors and contemporary artworks.
The exhibition is on display in the Great Library of the Reformed College of Debrecen until 2 November 2024.
Subjective
Exhibition of Kossuth and Béla Balázs Prize-winning photographer Éva Keleti
Éva Keleti, photographer, photo editor, Kossuth-, Balázs Béla- and Prima Primissima Prize-winning artist, was born on 18 August 1931 in Budapest. Her work spanning more than 70 years is a significant part of Hungarian culture and national photographic history. His pictures are both independent works and artistic cord documents. During this period, she made tens of thousands of photographs.
The exhibition is on display at the Bényi Gallery (Kölcsey Centre) from 28 June to 8 August 2024.
Golden glass for Debrecen mould
The art of the Büttös family, a family of 18th century goldsmiths
A new exhibition at the Debrecen Reformed College Museum features the cenobles of the Reformed congregations, made by three members of the Büttösi, a family of Debrecen’s goldsmiths.
The exhibition is on display from 21 June 2024 at the Museum of the Reformed College of Debrecen.
Painters of Transylvanian origin from the 20th century
A selection from the Kiss-Nagy collection
For three decades, the Debrecen-based couple Kiss-Nagy have been collecting works of art dating from 1949 to the present day. At the request of the Partium House, they have now put together an exhibition of works by 31 artists of Transylvanian and Partium origin from their collection.
The exhibition is on display at the Partium House (81 Piac Street) from 20 June 2024.
Burning Sacrifice – graphic art exhibition
The exhibition is on display in the Orthodox synagogue in Pásti Street until 8 August 2024.
With Color and Soul – Exhibition of painter and drawing teacher László Buka
The exhibition will be on display from 22 June 2024 in the Reformed Great Church of Debrecen.
Beautiful-ugly world – exhibition of photographer András Máthé
The exhibition is on display at the New Gallery (Széchenyi utca 1.) from 23 June 2024.
