BUDAPEST.- The first temporary exhibition at Ludwig Museum following the lift of the lockdown opened on September 3 under the title “Keeping the balance”, exhibiting approximately sixty artworks from Deutsche Telekom’s collection (Art Collection Telekom). The selection mainly features works of art from artists with roots in Eastern Europe. The exhibition, originally planned to open at the beginning of June, is an indication of life cautiously getting back to business as usual.

How can one strike and preserve balance in a complex, controversial and often antagonistic reality? The question posed by the exhibition raises hope and posits the statement simultaneously that conducting disputes about art and facing reality may bring forth ideas and relate experiences that are especially helpful in our effort to find balance.

“Telekom, as one of the largest telecom providers in Europe, has strong roots in Eastern Europe, demonstrated also by the fact that our mother company, Deutsche Telekom put works from Eastern European artists specifically into the focus of its collection. This special focus is based on the special historical, economics, political and cultural features of the region, which has been striving to prosper lying between and thus being exposed to the conflicts and gravitational forces of two major civilizational structures, the East and the West. The destiny of Eastern Europe is about experiencing, while striving to resolve that duality, seeking balance, i.e. building a bridge. The Keeping the balance exhibition provides a platform for dialogue, for sharing and aligning opinions, in the spirit of the Company’s philosophy: Life is for sharing,” said Magyar Telekom CFO, Darja Dodonova commenting upon the exhibition.




“We are very happy to have the opportunity to present the Art Collection Telekom at Ludwig Museum in Budapest. Starting a collection of contemporary art from scratch is an exciting journey. Since the beginning of the collection in 2010 our goal was, to present it to a broader public. Today we can look back to more than ten exhibitions that took place in different institutions in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland and Romania. The positive response we have gotten over the years proves us right. In concentrating on art from Central-, Eastern- and South-Eastern-Europe we want to support young artists and to foster a mutual understanding within Europe.” said Antje Hundhausen, VP Brand Experience, Deutsche Telekom.

The concept of the exhibition had been drawn up by the curators in 2019. Since then, the world has lost its previous balance, and the fragile nature of life has become tangibly obvious everywhere at the same time. We must find that balance once again, which also means that we must necessarily start over. We have now an opportunity to avoid making the same mistakes once more, to dare to seek and adopt new, innovative models in our interpersonal relationships, societal issues and coexistence with our environment.

Eastern European artists have recently experienced the overwhelming transformation from former socialist-communist dictatorships and have been part of the transition into a market economy, as well as witnesses to revolutions and wars.

That peculiar sensitivity and attention is detectable in their works, too. They reflect in the context of the above cultural environment upon the changes of society and the challenges all of us must embark upon. They respond sensitively to current problems and urgent issues. They do not provide ready-made answers but point out the necessity of striking a new balance in a world that has become even more controversial and complex, thus does not

tolerate simple solutions anymore. The works of art address directly specific imbalances the resolution of which are even more urgent than a year ago. At the same time, they radiate hope and confidence, as well as a sense of humor and cheerful demeanor. They attest to the fact that human creativity is able to counterbalance any difficulties in life.