Half a Century of the Art of the Future – The Vasarely Memorial Year

On 9 April, the birthday of Victor Vasarely, the reimagined JPM Vasarely Museum was inaugurated during a private professional event. The opening was attended by Vasarely’s grandson, Pierre Vasarely, President of the Fondation Vasarely in Aix-en-Provence, and his family.

The gallery of the event is available here. 

In his welcoming speech, Attila Péterffy, Mayor of Pécs, emphasised that the reopening of the museum serves as a double tribute: marking the 120th anniversary of Victor Vasarely’s birth and the 50th anniversary of the museum’s founding. He noted that even at its inception, the institution transcended the role of a traditional exhibition space, becoming a vital hub for modern thinking.

He pointed out that Vasarely’s legacy remains vibrant and influential today, permeating various fields of visual culture: "Art is not a closed form, but a continuous dialogue with the world."

The goal of the Vasarely Memorial Year is not merely to preserve this heritage but to actively integrate it into daily life. The season's slogan, "The art of the future has been with us for half a century," is more than just a phrase for the people of Pécs; it is a commitment to keeping this legacy alive, allowing it to flow from within the museum walls back into the city’s public spaces.

Gábor Bertók, Director of the Janus Pannonius Museum, shared personal memories to illustrate how deeply Victor Vasarely and the museum are embedded in the cultural identity of Pécs. He praised the extensive professional and organisational work behind the jubilee renewal, which included not only the exhibition design but the entire underlying infrastructure.

Pierre Vasarely, patron of the memorial year, spoke of his grandfather’s spirit and thanked the community of Pécs for their dedication to preserving the oeuvre. He highlighted the confluence of several milestones: the 120th anniversary of the artist's birth, the 50th anniversaries of both the Pécs museum and the Aix-en-Provence foundation, and the 15th anniversary of the twin-city relationship between the two towns.

Following the official ceremony, guests enjoyed themed gastronomy, including a "Zebra" dessert creation ('Vasarely Optics') and wines featuring labels designed by Luca Kovács, a student at the University of Pécs. Additionally, a public square in front of the Saint Emeric Church was officially named after Victor Vasarely.

Article: Martina Aknai-Kiss
Photos: Viktória Kersák