The Hungarian Blue Print Collection
Reykjavik City Hall - May 6 to May 14

G 1

In Praise of Handicraft 
A kézművesség dicsérete
154 x 200 cm

G 2

Early Spring 
Nyitnikék
150 x 200 cm

The title refers to a play on words  -- the Hungarian language is quite rich in such experessions. Hearing the song of the first bird in spring, having a look at a blue flower and a notice ’open up’  --  that could be the summary of the work.

G 3

Tendrils, Birds 
Indák, madarak
150 x 200 cm

In the blue-in-blue base sewn using classical American patterns there are two striking panels in the middle in sharp contrast to the background appliques on white textile. There you can see the much liked and most often used motifs of Hungarian folk art: tendrils, birds and flowers.

G 4

Flood of Flowers in Blue-and-White 
Virágözön kék-fehérben
146 x 200 cm

The group has chosen flower as the main pattern for the common work. The frame is composed of bunches of flowers made by the technique known as ’grandmother’s flower garden’. This way of sewing is one of the oldest methods --  thanks to the English. That’s why it is also called ’English manner’.

G 5

Among Flowers 
Virágok közt
150 x 200 cm

The group has been motivated to do their common work by using the most popular Hungarian pattern, the flower. The quilt is outstanding concerning the employed technique as well (it has been awarded First Prize). Not only quilting but trapunto have also been applied, so the impression is nearly three-dimensional, convex.

G 6

This woman, who lived in America, sewed  --  being alone, awaiting her husband’s return from the Civil War  --  a quilt titled ’Dear Jean’. Perhaps, this is the work that has become the most famous quilt all over the world. Seventy Hungarian quilters joined with each other in doing a copy of the original museum piece from blue-dye textile.

G 7

Modern Variation 
Modern variáció
150 x 200 cm

The ’pineapple’ block is considered to be classical, it has got several ancient variations. The group has chosen a deformed, modern way of application. Their main aim, besides accurate sewing, was to include as many different patterns as possible.

I 1

From Conception To Death Fogantatástól az elmúlásig
120 x 120 cm

I 2

Woman’s Life 
A nő élete
66 x 167 cm

The idea of the quilt has been given by the world of flower symbols in Transylvania. The upper part shows the way of becoming a full-grown girl, the middle part expresses that of a woman and the symbol of wedding. The lower part visualizes pregnancy. All the above process is reported in tulip symbols.

I 3

Hey, Rose …
Hej, rózsa
145 x 180 cm

The title of the quilt is the first line of a beautiful Hungarian song (it is still quite popular and often sung). The artist has won the highest prize for it, it was published in a book written in German and she has been awarded the title of ’guild-master’.

I 4

Cuttings in Csorna Style 1&2
Csornai vagdalásos I.
100 x 120 cm
Csornai vagdalásos II.
112 x 147 cm

Csorna is a small town in Hungary. It is known for its special cutting techique called ’vagdalasos’. In general they use a white, thin material (sometimes lace) as a base and put pieces of textile cut jumbled into layers on the base. There are two variations of it: bent and cornered. These styles are represented by the two quilts. They have been displayed several times and were published in a French magazine.

I 5

Curtain into my Kitchen Függöny a konyhámba
59 x 140 cm

I 6

Collected blocks 
Gyűjteményes
120 x 140 cm

As patterns of hand-made embroidery used to be collected on a special kerchief to keep them together as a memory, it has become a habit also in the field of patchwork to gather the previously sewn blocks and to compose a collected piece.The additional materials – two special types of Hungarian textile  -- are often used in folk art.

I 7

Heritage from Kalotaszeg Kalotaszegi örökség
165 x 85 cm

Kalotaszeg is one of the famous ethnographic regions in Hungary. It is known for its special sewing techniques. A pillow-case made in Kalotaszeg has been ’turned into the language of patchwork’. (If you lift up a corner of the quilt, on the back you can see the original pillow which inspired the artist).

I 8

Blue Snow 
Kék hó
185 x 250 cm

The aim of the artist was to show and highten the beauty of blue-dye textile of big patterns. The classical block system seemed to be the best way to achieve this goal as the big motifs could be inserted in the middle of the work. The title has been inspired by the overall picture of the quilt.

I 9

Remembrance 
Múzeumi gyűjteményes
106 x 130 cm

The quilt has been composed of old, museum pieces in memory of the artist’s mother-in-law. The cloth printed on both sides (this technique is not used any longer) was a present from the old woman and it has been completed by pieces of a very old red cloth.

I 10

The Hungarians’ Flower Garden 
A magyarok virágoskertje
138 x 98 cm

Artist: Zsuzsa MÉSZÁROS 

The picture sewn from hexagonal blocks shows the old, historical Hungary. After World War II the country was carved up and lost 2/3 of its territory. The dark blue patches present the borders of Hungary today. The sites of former blue-dye workshops are indicated by pieces of pearl.

I 11

Evening Atmosphere 
Esti hangulat
137 x 150 cm

The different shades of blue reminded the artist of a town during evening hours. It is also stressed by the branches of a tree. The quilt can be evaluated as an attempt to break the strict rules of classical patchwork and to let free design.

I 12

Collected pieces of small size (positive – negative)
Kis gyűjteményes
80 x 80 cm

The work includes techniques which require a lot of master strokes. You can also see a small collection of pieces employing a procedure similar to that of origami (folding technique). Recently, this technique  -- invented mainly by Japanese  --  has become quite popular.

I 13

Blue-in-Silver
Kék – ezüstben
80 x 80 cm

The artist emphasizes a traditional Hungarian folk art motif and surrounds it with a difficult quilting pattern. This is one of our wellknown embroidery, called ’golden quilting’. It was mainly used to make communion clothes employing red thread. However, silver matches better to blue.