A guest admiring some of the works by Judit Fischer at the official launch.
The recently opened Hampton by Hilton Budapest City Center, together with Kisterem Gallery and art consultant Lili Horváth, have launched “Budapest Art Cosmos,” an initiative to support Hungarian artistic talent and offer visitors immersive cultural programs.
The series debuted in the hotel at Dessewffy utca 7-11 in District VI with a solo exhibition by conceptual artist Judit Fischer entitled “Mundane Romance,” which opened free of charge to the public on April 18 and runs until the end of August.
The famously pet- and family-friendly Hampton by Hilton brand arrived in Budapest in the fall of 2023, following openings in the region in Vienna, Warsaw and Târgu Mures, Romania. The downtown hotel boasts 219 guest rooms and a lobby bar.
Hilton’s commitment to supporting the arts is nothing new. Its Hungarian hotels have regularly supported temporary exhibitions at the Museum of Fine Arts and the Hungarian National Gallery.
The company says this latest Budapest hotel initiative is unique in that it does not aim to purchase works of art from a single artist or a select group as permanent decoration but to create a living and constantly renewing long-term platform for young and mid-generation Hungarian contemporary artists, both established and emerging on the international scene.
The hotel commissioned art consultant and curator Lili Horváth to develop the concept. The first exhibition of the series was realized with the professional and operational collaboration of Kisterem, described by the hotel as one of the most influential contemporary art galleries in the Central European region, and which has been operating for almost 20 years and represents more than 25 highly acclaimed artists at prestigious international fairs.
Born in 1981, Judit Fischer, who graduated as a painter from the University of Fine Arts, is considered by the gallery to be one of the most original and unique artists of her generation, with a conceptual and media-varied practice ranging from watercolor and resin-based object painting to tapestry, sub-weaving and performative art actions, exploring the interrelations and interpenetrability between object and artifact, life and art.
In an exhibition of more than 20 of her works at “Budapest Art Cosmos,” a selection of her latest works on paper will be displayed in the hotel’s public spaces. Her watercolor paintings are portraits of everyday objects.
“Her still-life-like depictions invite the viewer to change focus and perspective, which Judit has mastered with great awareness and years of consistent work, and turn our attention from the exceptional to the every day, from the grandiose to the small,” Horváth said in her opening speech.
Andrzej Lejman, general manager of Hampton by Hilton Budapest, said, “We are delighted to launch our exciting collaboration, which aims not only to showcase a slice of Hungary’s rich cultural scene to our guests but also to emphasize our commitment to supporting local diversity and artistic talent.”
He added, “I look forward to building on our meaningful partnership as we continue to operate in Hungary, enriching the experiences of both our guests and local communities.”
This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of May 6, 2024.