Who doesn't remember their very first experience in kindergarten, when little Zsuzsika glided down the slide with her hair flying like no one in the history of the world, or Palko bounced so cleverly in the yard that all the little girls' hearts, who were afraid of school, started beating at the same time? We look back on these moments as the first time we fell in love. Well, that's what our latest blog post is all about. It's about love.
But what is this word, this feeling really?
Until the beginning of the 20th century, it was thought that love was primarily a subject for writers, poets, musicians and, of course, visual artists.But 100 years later, there is a wealth of research and analysis on the subject. Stephanie Ortigue, a professor at Syracuse University in the US, pioneered a study in 2010 that sought to answer the question "What is love?" in a completely new way. It was the first study to show, among other things, that love has a direct effect on our brains. The study also showed that love affects the intellectual part of the brain and induces euphoric feelings such as drug use (permanent installation of newly purchased paintings or sculptures in your home).
It also turns out that it only takes a fifth of a second to fall in love with someone.The only thing faster than falling in love with an art object...) Love is in fact a chemical reaction in the brain, as 12 different substances (such as dopamine, adrenaline and oxytocin) are released simultaneously in the brain, resulting in a euphoric state (the moment before buying a piece of art is more intense in that other physical symptoms appear: palms sweating, heart beating in the throat, stomach churning, trembling. When we return home with our newest chosen ones, all of this disappears and our bodies are filled with contentment, gratitude and joy. If you don't believe it, give it a try!)
The social psychologist Zick Tubin defined true love in three points: affection, caring, trust. Researchers have found that this feeling is essentially a combination of biological desires and cultural processes, as it is universal and transnational.
The arts have been dealing with the theme of love for centuries, and in some cases for millennia.
"There is an element above all, who is the master of reason, the victorious adversary of logic, the tyrant of kings and peoples, who gives life and takes it away, and dispenses no favours, - before whom mathesis is not science: he multiplies nothing by nothing, and becomes everything; before whom force is not power, and justice is not law; who creates sin and virtue, and knows no distinction between the two. The name of this world-destroying, world-preserving element is love."
Mór Jókai expressed the same opinion on the subject. As many writers and poets have expressed their thoughts on love, so many different ways of looking at it are revealed to us.
Music lovers can also often find music by lovers. It is an indispensable resource for composers, songwriters and musicians, whether they are writing classical, folk or popular music, from the earliest tribal music to the present day.
Of course, the visual arts are no exception. Since the Venus de Willendorf, artists have consistently chosen love as a theme. Whether intentionally, as an expression of their own feelings or as a sublimation. The history of art, both universal and Hungarian, abounds with examples, but we will spare you a list of them, if only for reasons of space and time.
But there's no way we don't mention our own artists! Many of our 170 artists are represented in the Vándorfény Gallery with works of love. Alim Adilov, Klára Bán, Attila Boros, László Budai, József Burkus, Lajos Csáky, Bernadett Cserfő, Sándor Czobor, László Gulyás, Gergely Gyuricza, Zoltán Hornyik, Endre Szász László "Vallone", Szidónia Varga and many more artists. To find out who and what other works of art are included in this category, we have a brand new category on our website called "Love".
We are approaching the first global event of 2019, and this year we want to celebrate it again with our art-loving audience. It's Valentine's Day, which has been a holiday for lovers in Hungary since the 90s. We are sitting on 14 February, the day of St Valentine, the patron saint of lovers. On this day, millions of couples all over the world give each other half or completely meaningless and/or useless and/or fattening trinkets and knick-knacks.
We want to be a pioneer in reversing this trend. That's why we offer you the opportunity to give a meaningful, sophisticated and valuable gift that matches the greatest feelings two people have for each other!
During the week of Valentine's Day, we welcome your enquiries with great discounts on our website, by e-mail, by phone or in person at our permanent gallery and at our travelling exhibitions in the capital and the countryside!
It is good to love! Love your loved one and surprise him or her with an unforgettable gift!
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