Zsolnay ceramics from the Gugyi collection, designed by Sándor Apáti Abt
Events marking World Art Nouveau Day will be held on June 6 in Pécs’s Zsolnay Cultural Quarter (southwestern Hungary), focusing on eosin, the women who shaped the era, turn-of-the-century fashion, creative workshops, and the Zsolnay family, confirms a statement by Zsolnay Heritage Management Ltd. (ZSÖK), the operator of the facility, told MTI.
In their statement, they noted that World Art Nouveau Day—marking the 100th anniversary of the deaths of architects Antoni Gaudí and Ödön Lechner—will be celebrated on June 10. They highlighted that this year, a particularly rich program of events will pay tribute to the anniversary in the cultural quarter established on the grounds of the Zsolnay factory.
The programs include exclusive, costumed guided tours led by guides dressed in period attire. Visitors can explore the architectural treasures of the quarter while the golden age of the Zsolnay factory comes to life.
During the walk, not only will the secrets of the world-conquering eosin technique be revealed, but also the intellectual legacy of geniuses such as Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, József Rippl-Rónai, and Endre Ady—the press release stated, adding that the ticket for the walk also grants access to the Zsolnay Golden Age – Gyugyi Collection.
This year’s international theme for World Art Nouveau Day—“Women of Art Nouveau”—draws attention to the role of women in shaping the movement; in connection with this, women’s fashion, the era’s ideals of beauty, and the world of its creators come to life through archival screenings and period costumes available for visitors to try on. In the afternoon, two workshops await families and those eager to create something.
In the Apostolos Hall, under the guidance of Mónika Vágyi, visitors can learn the ancient macramé technique to create Art Nouveau-style jewelry and accessories.
In the Ceramics Hall, under the guidance of porcelain painter Julianna Dézsi, visitors can create unique postcards featuring Art Nouveau tile patterns, and while creating, they can gain insight into the secrets of ceramic decoration and the cultural-historical significance of Pécs’s Zsolnay heritage.
For those with a penchant for mysteries, Tamás P. Horváth will give a lecture and lead a walking tour titled “The Zsolnays and Freemasonry,” during which the “secrets” of the Hungarian Symbolic Grand Lodge and the Grand Orient will be revealed, and visitors will also learn whether Vilmos and Miklós Zsolnay were indeed Freemasons, as well as what mysterious symbols were encoded in the Zsolnay statue and the walls of the Zsolnay Mausoleum.
More information about the programs on June 6 is available on their website.
Via MTI; Featured image: Wikimedia Commons
