Islamic Art exhibitions in Eastern Europe after World War 2

Dr. Iván Szántó¹

1) 1- Chair, Department of Iranian Studies Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Humanities, Budapest, Hungary

Publication : First international conference of Museums (museumuma1402.ir)
Abstract :
The present study aims to shed some light on the collecting and display of Islamic art in Hungary in the 1950s. Although economic, political, and cultural conditions – not to mention the religious implications –, all seem to have been discouraging the promotion of these kinds of exhibitions, such events could still be realised during the first and most repressive decade of Communist Hungary. This was partly a consequence of the recent flow of collections from private hands into public collections which made a relatively large amount of material suddenly available. At least as decisive, however, was the broad Cold War setting, which in the 1950s unexpectedly revalued the previously marginalised areas of Islamic art and archaeology. Despite the narrow and haphazard range of Islamic objects, the official cultural policy was able through their display, without much effort, to simultaneously create a sense of cultural thaw for the domestic audience, and, for international observers, to express a willingness to reach out to the world beyond Europe: all of this in strict alignment with Soviet directives. The complex task required suitable professionals from both a scientific and a political point of view. An overview of these exhibitions and the background of their creation will be attempted in the essay.
Keywords : Cold War Egypt Exhibitions Hungary Islamic Art Yugoslavia