We warmly welcome everyone – not just nature enthusiasts – to our latest temporary exhibition at MODEM, running from December 7, 2024, to March 9, 2025!

Titled Learning from Nature? – Botany, the exhibition invites those eager to explore the intersection of nature and contemporary art and who are open to rethinking coexistence with the natural world.

The MODEM exhibition focuses on three central themes: observing the mosaic landscapes of the Anthropocene, reinterpreting natural symbolism, and employing speculative storytelling.

The showcased works were created during a two-week workshop held in the summer of 2024 as part of the Debrecen International Art Residency. Participating artists, architects, musicians, and designers drew inspiration from the rich natural history of Debrecen and its surroundings, fostering artistic research and collaboration.

About the exhibition:

Debrecen has played a significant role in the history of Hungarian botany for centuries. With the publication of the Herbarium by Péter Méliusz Juhász (1578) and the Hungarian Flora Book by Sámuel Diószegi and Mihály Fazekas (1807), the city became a hub for botanical and natural science research. MODEM’s new exhibition builds on this rich heritage, showcasing unique natural collections from Debrecen, such as the Museum of the Reformed College of Debrecen, the Botanical Garden of the University of Debrecen, and the Hortobágy National Park.

Exhibiting artists:

CENTRALA – Małgorzata Kuciewicz & Simone De Iacobis (PL/IT)

Daniel Godinez Nivón (MX/NL)

Illés Zsófia Szonja (HU)

Kortmann-Járay Katalin & Mendreczky Karina (HU)

Kuzma Eszter Júlia (HU)

Gaja Mežnarić Osole & Krater Collective (SI)

Thea Lazăr (RO)

Szabó Bálint (HU)

Szabó Nóra (HU)

Vékony Dorottya (HU)