Diplomatic Pouch - March 14, 2007 

Hungary’s Modern Art Gaining Attention

By Gail Scott

Hungarian Ambassador András Simonyi welcomed his country’s minister of education and culture, István Hiller, to the Hungarian Residence to honor three Americans who have contributed to Hungarian culture and the increasing awareness of modern Hungarian art. In addition, several important modern Hungarian artists made the trip from Budapest to see their own colorful artwork hanging on the residence walls.

Minister Hiller urged guests to select “the right business card for Hungary. In the past, we have had many different business cards during our 1,000-year history, but now our new business card stands for ‘knowledge, experience, innovation and creativity.’”

Speaking in Hungarian, he also warned that when people meet Hungarians, they always go home with too many cards and many are thrown away. “Keep our new one,” he said. “We hope it will last a very long time.”

Then he presented Hungary’s Pro Cultura Hungarica award to Nancy G. Brinker, former U.S. ambassador to Hungary and founder of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, named after Brinker’s sister Susan, who was also an avid collector of modern Hungarian art.

Kirk Brown, an American who lives in Denver, and his wife Jill Wiltse were also given Hungary’s highest cultural award for amassing a large collection of this new genre of Hungarian art.

“We collect all kinds of art,” explained Brown. “But there is something in this modern Hungarian art that deeply touches us. Perhaps there’s a magic component of the Hungarian culture that is exhibited in this art. All we know is that we have a passion for it and are mesmerized by its beauty. We don’t understand why the world has not yet discovered this art.”