András Szunyoghy's exhibition at Műcsarnok
With his decades of work graphic artist András Szunyoghy has become a unique and recognized figure in Hungarian and international visual culture. His exhibition entitled Anatomy, which opened at Műcsarnok (Kunsthalle) on 10 July, provides a comprehensive overview of his diverse career, showing his expertise in copper and linocut techniques, his works based on the anatomical depiction of the human and animal body, and the educational aids and drawings that are an integral part of his teaching and publishing activities.
The exhibition can be viewed until 19 October.
The exhibition can be viewed until 19 October.
Zoltán Rockenbauer, art historian and curator of the exhibition, recommends the graphic artist's works that are now on view to the attention of those interested:
"Szunyoghy owes his international fame primarily to his anatomical books, which provide generations with a basis for learning drawing observation and anatomical vision. His works have been translated into more than twenty languages - in addition to the major world languages also into such languages as Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Turkish, Romanian or Lithuanian - and are still used today from Mexico to Japan, from Canada to China. In our exhibition some of the basic features of a consistent and rich life path are outlined through the complementary fields and tools of reproduction graphics, anatomical representation, drawing pedagogy and knowledge dissemination. The presented works, objects and books not only convey the layers of technical knowledge and pictorial thinking, but also a specific permanence of perspective."
In his speech Attila Turi, the President of HAA reminded us of the artist's nature as a draftsman: "As an architect I am also a draftsman; I sharpen my pencil, and I am driven by the same deep curiosity that comes from childhood as András: to learn about the details of things, their structure, to somehow explore the wonders of nature. I am also sure that we are looking for the same thing: we are trying to recognize the Creator in the created world. The Creator, whose works we humans copy, but whose thoughts we cannot match."
He also recalled how Imre Makovecz put it: "The existence of God is evident. Look at a leaf! How can you design something like this? Everything is symmetrical, yet unique. What kind of spirit is there that maintains and governs all of this? Because the system works." He added that Szunyoghy's drawings in his books, which have been translated into many languages, teach us the most. Because his drawings are made to teach us the most important thing: to see. "They direct our gaze to hidden things that we don't even have eyes for these days, even though our world is otherwise overcrowded with colorful pictures or recordings. Through them we can learn about the beauty and harmony of our created world, the living world made by the Creator."
"Szunyoghy owes his international fame primarily to his anatomical books, which provide generations with a basis for learning drawing observation and anatomical vision. His works have been translated into more than twenty languages - in addition to the major world languages also into such languages as Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Turkish, Romanian or Lithuanian - and are still used today from Mexico to Japan, from Canada to China. In our exhibition some of the basic features of a consistent and rich life path are outlined through the complementary fields and tools of reproduction graphics, anatomical representation, drawing pedagogy and knowledge dissemination. The presented works, objects and books not only convey the layers of technical knowledge and pictorial thinking, but also a specific permanence of perspective."
In his speech Attila Turi, the President of HAA reminded us of the artist's nature as a draftsman: "As an architect I am also a draftsman; I sharpen my pencil, and I am driven by the same deep curiosity that comes from childhood as András: to learn about the details of things, their structure, to somehow explore the wonders of nature. I am also sure that we are looking for the same thing: we are trying to recognize the Creator in the created world. The Creator, whose works we humans copy, but whose thoughts we cannot match."
He also recalled how Imre Makovecz put it: "The existence of God is evident. Look at a leaf! How can you design something like this? Everything is symmetrical, yet unique. What kind of spirit is there that maintains and governs all of this? Because the system works." He added that Szunyoghy's drawings in his books, which have been translated into many languages, teach us the most. Because his drawings are made to teach us the most important thing: to see. "They direct our gaze to hidden things that we don't even have eyes for these days, even though our world is otherwise overcrowded with colorful pictures or recordings. Through them we can learn about the beauty and harmony of our created world, the living world made by the Creator."
July 23, 2025
