Duration of the exhibition:
11th of October 2024 – 30th of November 2024 (Sfântu Gheorghe, Transylvanian Art Centre)
9th of October – 31st of December 2024 (Miercurea Ciuc, Szekler Museum of Ciuc)

Curator of the exhibition: Apor Ferencz S.

Members of the jury: Norbert Filep (RO), artist; prof. dr. Erőss István (HU), artist, rector of the Hungarian University of Fine Arts; Ciprian N. Isac (RO), graphic designer, curator of the Bucharest Graphic Days; Apor Ferencz S. (RO), artist, curator of the Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland; Imre Tolnay DLA (HU), artist, university professor at the Széchenyi István University in Győr, Bordás Beáta PhD (RO), art historian, coordinator of the Transylvanian Art Centre, Gábor Gyenes (SK), artist, assistant professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, Faculty of Graphics in Bratislava.

Opening:
Friday, 11th of October 2024, 6 p.m., Transylvanian Art Centre
Wednesday, 9th of October 2024, 6 p.m., Szekler Museum of Ciuc

The initiator of the Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland, which has a growing international reputation and interest, was the visual artist Zsolt Siklodi (1966-2017), artistic director of the Cultural and Art Centre of Lăzarea and lecturer at several universities abroad. The leaders of Mureș, Harghita and Covasna counties, knowing that the region and its values need to be promoted on a larger scale, embraced the idea of the Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland and contributed to organizing the first edition of the biennial.

The goals of the biennial, which were formulated in 2010 and are still valid today, were to present and promote contemporary graphic art and graphic art from Szeklerland, to outline the aspirations of contemporary graphic art and to connect the graphic art trends in the region with international trends, to present contemporary graphic art trends to the art-loving public and to promote fine arts by showcasing new art creations and stimulating artists.

In 2024, for the 8th edition of the Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland, 2046 works of art were sent from 68 countries and from 926 artists. In 2024, for the second time, some of the artworks were also exhibited in Miecurea Ciuc at the Szekler Museum of Ciuc.

G8 invited visual interpretations on the significance of balance and, conversely, the issue of imbalance, aiming for artistic intent to focus on the social role of the image through the artist’s creative attitude. Thus, the call attracted artists who seek to innovate the processes of contemporary graphic art with a message for the future. The possible responses generated by the works serve as a mirror of critique for today’s society. In the exhibition in Sfântu Gheorghe, visitors could view 140 works by 137 artists from 28 countries, all created on the theme of imbalance.

At the opening event held in the Transylvanian Art Centre, festive speeches were delivered and awards presented by Mihály András Beke, First Consul of Hungary’s Consulate in Miercurea Ciuc, Sándor Tamás, President of the Covasna County Council, Apor Ferencz S., the curator of the Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland, prof. dr. István Erőss, rector of the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Ágnes Képiró, art historian and István Imreh, director of the Covasna County Cultural Centre that organized the event. As the host of the evening, dr. Beáta Bordás, coordinator of the Transylvanian Art Centre, welcomed the guests and emceed the event. Representatives from the co-organizing institutions – the Szekler Museum of Ciuc, the Cultural and Art Centre of Lăzarea, the Mureș County Museum, and the Szekler National Museum – were also present, alongside prominent figures from the art world and representatives of the universities and organizations offering the awards.

The exhibition in the Szekler Museum of Ciuc, which presented part of the selected artworks of the 8th Graphic Art Biennial was opened by Aranka Karda-Markaly, director of the Szekler Museum of Ciuc, István Dolhai, Consul General of the Consulate General of Hungary in Miercurea Ciuc; Attila Korodi, the mayor of Miercurea-Ciuc, prof. dr. István Erőss, rector of the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Apor Ferencz S., curator of the biennial and art historian Eszter Túros.

The winners of the 8th Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland:
Grand Prize of the Biennial: Marco Trentin (IT)
Imre Nagy Award: Laura Czuczor (HU)
Pál Nagy Award: Vasiliki (Vasso) Chatzimanoli (GR)
Sándor Plugor Award: Marlena Biczak (PL)
MAMŰ Society Cultural Association Award: Marlena Biczak (PL)
Lăzarea Artist Colony Award: Andrzej Wochnik (PL)
Partium Award from the Partium Christian University: Eszter Nóra Dicső (HU)
Imre Baász Award: Teerawoot Com-on (TH)
Award from the Hungarian Consulate in Miercurea Ciuc: Satitkun Mongkolruangrit (TH)
Pulzus Artist Colony Award: Jagoda Jaworska (PL)
Hungarian University of Fine Arts Award: Katarzyna Tereszkiewicz (PL)
Eszterházy Károly University Award: Petru Radu Buba (RO)

Organisers:
Covasna County Council
Cultural Centre of Covasna County

Co-organizers:
Harghita County Council
Cultural and Art Centre of Lăzarea
Mureș County Council
Mureș County Museum
Town Hall of Sfântu Gheorghe
Transylvanian Art Centre Association
Town Hall of Miercurea Ciuc
Szekler Museum of Ciuc
Szekler National Museum
MAGMA Contemporary Art Space
Haáz Rezső Museum

Sponsors:
National Cultural Fund of Hungary
Hungarian Academy of Arts
Consulate General of Hungary in Miercurea Ciuc
Hungarian Government – State Secretary for National Policy, Bethlen Gábor Fund
MVM Energy Romania
Pulzus Art Camp
Hungarian University of Fine Arts
Eszterházy Károly University
Institute of Visual Arts Eger
Partium Christian University – Department of Arts
Romanian Union of Artists
MAMŰ Society Cultural Association