The exhibition “Female Nature” by Judit Rabóczky is presented in parallel in two spaces – at the Vaska Emanuilova Gallery and at the Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Institute.

The starting point in the works of the Hungarian sculptor is female nature and the female body.

Seven female bodies made of recycled materials are exhibited among the ceramic figures in Vaska Emanuilova’s permanent exhibition. The parallel between the two authors with almost a hundred years of distance between them creates a special choreography and rhythm in the museum’s space.

Animated, self-absorbed, detached from the world around them, staring at their reflection in the mirror, these figures are in their own in-between space, where femininity oscillates uncomfortably between the sexually alluring and the menacing. It is as if they are frozen, bent, in flight, in a convulsion, finishing the narrative about the woman started by Vaska Emanuilova.

The exhibition space of the Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Institute presents the series “The Mysterious Object of Desire” by Judit Rita Rabóczky, in which the stereotypes of femininity are emptied of their content and wrapped in iron armour. Here, the body is missing, but the woman is present again, just as strongly and ambiguously. Delicate lace underwear and corsets clash with the material and its impenetrable durability.

The image of a woman who wears her femininity as a combat protective covering is not new, but in the hands of Judit Rita Rabóczky, it gains the power of a sign both exquisite and multi-layered, touching on many social stigmas that weigh like iron on feminist ideas.

The dialogue between the two spaces and the two female authors traces not only the formal development of contemporary sculpture and the concept of the female body, but also brings these themes into focus, using mostly the contrast in materials, form and messages.

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On 11 September. 6 p.m., within the exhibition, a meeting and conversation with Judit Rita Rabóczky will be held in the space of the Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Institute, during which she will share more about her work.

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Judit Rita Rabóczky (b. 1979) is an artist born in Eger, Hungary, where she currently lives and works. She studied at the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts, Department of Sculpture, with masters: Zoltán Karmó, Pál Kő. Memberships: Association of Hungarian Creative Artists (MAOE), Hungarian Sculptorʼs

Society. She has numerous institutional exhibitions and participations, including: MANNER, Exhibition with Attila Mata in the G13 Gallery, Budapest (2010); FLESH, Bur Gallery, Margaret island (2011); Luca-chains, Karinthy salon, Budapest (2011); RAVEL, exhibition in the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts, Budapest (2013); KIDS, Polish Cultural Institute, Budapest (2014); Raiffeisen Gallery, Budapest (2015); Rautakissat/ Ironcat, Balassi Institue, Helsinki (2016); The Queen, Nest Gallery, Budapest (2016); “The Origin of the World”, FUGA Budapest Centre of Architecture (2018); Judith, Garden of the Margit Kovács Ceramic Museum, Szentendre (2018); “The Object of Desire”, Fészek Gallery, Herman-hall, Budapest (2020); VASÉNEK, GODOT Contemporary Art Institute, Budapest (2021); VASRA VERVE, B32 Gallery, Budapest (2023). Some of her recent group appearances: „Statek Robinsona“ Muzeum Architektury we Wrocławiu, Poland (2019); Living Collection. Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest (2019); The Free Game / II. National Salon of Fine Arts, Kunsthalle, Budapest (2020); Artus residents exhibition, Nádor Gallery, Pécs (2021); LIÁN, MKE Barcsay Hall, Budapest (2023); Essentia Artis, Pesti Vigadó, Budapest (2023); Blue Velvet, Gallery Max, Törökbálint (2023); Young Hungarian Contemporaries, Ausstellungbrücke, St. Pölten, Austria (2024); Freiraum 2024, Open Air Exhibition, Gols, Austria (2024).

She has participated in various residencies and has been awarded individual scholarships and honours: 16th Winter Exhibition of Miskolc Prize (2001); The Award of the Carmen Würth and Reinhold Foundation (2003); Barcsay Anatomical Prize (2004); Diploma Prize of the Hungarian Artists Association (2007); 55th Autumn Exhibition of Hódmezővásárhely Prize; Junior Prima Prize (2008); 37th Summer Exhibition of Szeged Prize; Artist in residence at Atelier Vienna (2013); Hungarian Academy of Arts Scholarship for Young Artists (2016); Fourth Sculptor Biennial Prize (2017); Hungarian Academy of Arts Scholarship Program (2019); Support of the Hungarian Academy of Arts Popularization Program (2024).

www.raboczky.hu