The exhibition Habitat seeks to provide an overview of visual approaches and attitudes to nature in art from the second half of the nineteenth century up to now, through paintings, graphic art and photo series, sculptures, photo documentations and videos. By placing the issues of the ecological crisis within a broader context, it explores how the relationship between nature and culture can be redefined, considering the complex relations between approaches taken to nature and the landscape in previous centuries, contemporary ecological thinking, and the interplay between nature and urban culture.

The exhibition explores how art over the past two centuries has responded to changes in the natural environment. It examines how the concept of nature evolved as industrial and agricultural production scaled up, and how the different attitudes relating to this shift were manifest in artistic expression. More recent works reveal the influence of technological advancements and the diverse trends of the twentieth century, inviting visitors to reflect on their own views and responsibilities regarding an issue that will shape the future of humanity as a whole.

This complex issue is presented through the works of artists such as László Mednyánszky and Gustave Courbet, as well as Alan Sonfist, who was considered a pioneer of ecological art in the 1970s, and the artists of the Pécs Workshop. Their works enter into dialogue with those by contemporary Hungarian artists, including Tamás Dezső, Kitti Gosztola, László András Hatházi, Gideon Horváth, Tamás Kaszás, Luca Sára Rózsa, Rita Süveges, Kata Tranker and Dominika Trapp.

The exhibition at the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest is available until July 27, 2025.

Read more: https://en.mng.hu/exhibitions/habitat-nature-and-landscape-constructs/