Our weekly roundup for the upcoming weekend offers plenty of suggestions for where to go, what to do, and who must not be missed during the next three days. There are always so many happenings to choose from in Budapest – dance parties, exhibits, live music, cocktails, performances, and more – but here is our pick of the bunch for the imminent 72 hours or so:
Friday
11am - 9pm: Martin Kollar – Field Trip at Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center Slovakian photographer Martin Kollar has spent more than a year in Israel on several visits. His photographs, exploring the social and cultural conditions of the country, are perplexing: we can only see indirect signs of violence – such as maneuvering battle tanks and helicopters, or an armored land rover – yet tension is tangible in the majority of the depressingly empty pictures. The exhibition can be viewed for free in the private room of Capa Center until October 5th.
11am - 6pm: Erik Mátrai's Exhibition at Karinthy Szalon Erik Mátrai's works are characterized by versatile media usage. His videos and panel paintings often have themes of religion and art history, accompanied by the latest technical solutions and elements of classical iconography.
His installations focus on the relationship of art and space, and often have their own sacred space, or create a transcendent meaning for the premise themselves. In the Karinthy Szalon, we can now see a selection of the paintings and graphics of Erik Mátrai until October 9.
8pm - 11pm: John Coffey, Kies at A38 ShipJohn Coffey is influenced by bands such as Refused, Every Time I Die, and The Ghost of a Thousand, and the Dutch band plays hardcore punk-influenced rock 'n' roll as loud as they can. This won't go down easy!
8pm - 10pm:
L-E-V by Sharon Eyal & Gai Behar (ISR): Sara / Killer Pig at TrafóHot, sexy, rhythmic – fine movements, popping shapes, crooked elegance.
L-E-V, jointly operated by Eyal’s artistic and life partner Gai Behar, incorporates the Gaga dance language Eyal learned at Batsheva, but also features Eyal’s trademark combination of androgyny, tribalism, and eroticism. Sara is like a pearl in a treasure box of jewels, smelling like ancient with the feeling of new. Be it white, transparent, or leaking colors, it always remains a pearl. Killer Pig is about minimalist expression, intense honesty and uncompromising physicality.
10pm - 6am: Budapest Calling Season Opening – Lexer at Tesla BudapestLexer is very much one of the young breed; in his early twenties, he has not spent the past decade languishing in the house and techno academies having to listen to the nebulous dictates of good taste. His party started relatively recently and he soon realized that it would be a waste to box oneself into a corner. Four to the floor? Absolutely. Vocals? Why not. Piano? Always good. Trumpet? Yes. Strings? Goes without saying. Guitar? Oh yes, guitar.
He does his own thing, free of dogma, resistant to stereotyping. He bridges the gap between club and pop, underlining his open-minded, intuitive approach to music, remarkably skilled at such a young age.
Saturday
All day:
15. ARC exhibition at 1956 Memorial Square The works of this billboard exhibition, held for the 15th time this year, contemplate the ideas inspired by the phrase “Hungarian dream”. In addition to the main theme, applicants could compete with any kind of ideas in the competition held before the exhibition, just like every year.
10am - 6pm: ...and the idea takes shape...
at the Kunsthalle This year, the 20th of July marks the centenary of the death of the architect of Heroes’ Square, and next year we celebrate the 120th anniversary of the building of Kunsthalle. These two important dates present the opportunity to host an exhibition of Schickedanz’s original plans and watercolors in the former ceremonial hall until October 18th.
10am - 6pm: Poster Dreams at the Hungarian National Museum In the iconic Tunsgram advertisement by Hungarian Art Nouveau painter and master of poster art Géza Faragó, a slim, mysterious, demon-like lady is gazing at the sky – or the Sun? Birds? Airplanes? Perhaps the coming modern era? The future? – and, extending the shadow cast by her huge hat, she is gracefully shading her eyes with her hands. However, the large, squinting cat curled up at her feet is undoubtedly annoyed by the light coming from the incandescent Wolfram light bulb, the modern era's technological invention. Although today we are replacing these world famous bulbs – in use for over 100 years and patented by a Hungarian genius – with energy-saving ones, we can still see in their light that the poster and, of course, the lady in it, stays with us forever…
11am - 8pm: Sweet Days at Buda CastleSweet Days is Hungary’s most important chocolate and sweets festival, featuring the best-known artisanal chocolate manufacturers, confectioneries, and well-known world brands.
Sweet Days, happening during September 18-20, is more than just another “choco festival”; it is indeed the largest Hungarian event of the sweets industry. With nearly 100 thematic exhibitors and 30,000 visitors, Sweet Days is now Europe’s fifth-largest chocolate and sweets festival.
11pm - 6am: Monkey6 Presents Randomer at CorvintetőIn a short time, North Londoner Randomer has built up a small but heavy-hitting catalogue of work – releasing ‘Brunk’ (on Hessle Audio’s 116 & Rising compilation), the acid-tinged ‘Obtuse’, and most recently his dance-mania-on-steroids EP for Numbers, 'Real Talk'." His debut for Hemlock Recordings found him taking things even further back to basics, dropping two heavyweight trax of pure beats and bassline indulgence. With more uncompromising raw cuts to follow this year, Randomer is set to redefine the boundaries of house, techno, and jungle.
Sunday
9.45am - : Russian Film Week at Puskin CinemaRussian Film Week will take place during September 17-21 at Puskin Cinema, with five important contemporary works not yet screened in Hungary. The festival’s program features festival and audience favorites, as well as lighter and more serious works. Just a few titles: Dear Mama!
(Мама дарагая!), Intimate Parts (Intimnye mesta), Corrections Class (Klass korrektsii), and Ivan, Son of Amir (Ivan syn Amira).
10am - 10pm: Street Food Show at Andrássy Avenue Between September 19 and 20, the Street Food Show will be held for the ninth time, and for the second time on Andrássy Avenue, within the framework of Car Free Day. In addition to the regular chow, there will be many new vendors and wines, pálinka, champagne, and other potent potables in addition to the strong beer lineup.
