Free exhibition showcases Hungarian artists who made their names in Paris

Just opened at the Kálmán Makláry Fine Arts Gallery and due to run for a month, the third in a series of exhibitions featuring Hungarian artists in Paris focuses on sculpture. The names of Gusztáv Miklós, József Csáky, István Beöthy, Anton Prinner, Katalin Sylvester, Victor Román and László Szabó are better-known here than they are in their homeland – their works have been exhibited at the Tate Modern and the Pompidou Centre. Now Hungarian audiences have the chance to see what the fuss was all about. And it's free!

Although Hungarian Paris III is quite modest in size, these powerful works dominate their space so firmly they demand serious contemplation.

One of the most beautiful pieces is the imposing statue by Anton Prinner, Pharaoh. This work of art, evoking the most enduring of Egyptian traditions, shows a fascinating creature whose strength and power transcend her female principle, growing almost beyond her gender. Originally born Anna, Anton Prinner, a friend of Picasso's, usually wore men’s clothes and used a male name, so it’s no coincidence that there’s an exciting play with gender identity here.

It is worth admiring the Cubist work by József Csáky, Fej (‘Head’), while the bronze statue by István Beöthy entitled Kozák tánc also stands out, wonderfully capturing movement in its abstractness. And Katalin Sylvester’s colourful human figures show with love and humour the unexpected nature of the human personality that is at least as much fun as it can sometimes be irritating.