Not only with technical support, but also through our cultural diplomacy effort, we contributed to the successful opening of Sándor Petőfi's new exhibition in Shanghai, China.
An exhibition on the life and work of 19th century heroic poet, Sándor Petőfi, entitled "The Stars of the Age: Petőfi and his Time", opened on 1 August at the Chinese Museum of Modern Press and Publishing in Shanghai. The timing is not coincidental: August is the city's academic and literary month, with prestigious events such as the Shanghai Book Fair and International Literature Week.
The exhibition, on display until the end of November, offers a rare and intimate insight into the life and literary work of the Hungarian poet in a country that is the first in the world to have all of Petőfi's works translated and published. Back and Rosta Ltd. has been a co-production partner of the Budapest History Museum, the Petőfi Literary Museum and the Chinese Museum of Modern Press and Publishing.
We have a decade-long, impressive record in participating Hungarian-Chinese cultural exchange activities. The first time in 2017, we partnered with the Hungarian National Museum to send a number of important Chinese museums a selection from Queen Sissy's collection. The travelling exhibition was seen by almost three million people," said István Back, one of our founders and owners.
Just like seven years ago, this exhibition also included a spectacular, interactive digital video display, the internationally renowned Magic Wall by Back and Rosta Ltd. In addition to more than 100 Petőfi memorabilia, which were brought from Budapest, a wall of three monitors, vertically arranged on an 86-inch, 4-meter wide screen, offers an interactive way to get closer to the popular poet.
Back and Rosta Ltd, a pioneer in partnering with innovative, digitally open museums and known for its visitor experience developments, has partnerships with hundreds of cultural institutions across Asia, most of which have already installed Magic Walls. This is our first collaboration with the China Museum of Modern Press and Publishing.
The current exhibition in Shanghai presents the life and work of the Hungarian poet in three parts: firstly, portraits and real objects such as clothes, wine glasses, pipes, tables and chairs. Some of the artifacts were handled exclusively by Back and Rosta Ltd.! In the second part, Petőfi's manuscripts and poems will be brought to life, many works in digital form, through interactive digital displays on the Magic Wall.
The third part is a collective tribute to the achievements of Lu Xun, the first to translate Petőfi into Chinese, and to the Hungarian poet who was born 200 years ago. Thanks to Lu Xun, Petőfi's name is now well known in China, and his poem "Freedom, Love!" is now essential part of high school textbooks!
László Csorba, Director of the Budapest History Museum, said at the opening ceremony that the exhibition is an experiential and effective way to get to know Petőfi and his era, which, thanks to the modern technical representation, has a profound effect and promises visitors an unforgettable experience.
Ma Wenyun, Secretary General of the Shanghai Writers' Association, highlighted in his speech the freedom of Petőfi's poems, justice and national liberation. He also recalled how Petői’s poetry has had a profound impact on Chinese literature and continues to influence generations of Chinese readers.
Comments