Do you want to see an innovative solution to the challenge posed by the rising sea levels? Are you looking for a handy corkscrew that doubles as a piece of home decor? Do you need a new system for consolidating, processing, and controlling data? All these questions, and much more, will be answered by Shaping Hungary, a breathtaking exhibition of Hungarian design displayed at the International Pavilion (7 Clarence Street) from September 30 to October 28.
One of the things Hungarians have always been known for is their creativity. Whether we talk about office equipment like the ballpoint pen, kitchen tools like the safety match, logistics technology like the electric motor, or even smart games like the Rubik cube, Hungarians have always been at the front line of creating new, useful, and sometimes stunningly simple solutions for everyday problems.
Luckily, the inventive spirit of Hungarians still hasn’t run out. In fact, quite a few inventions, patens, and industrial designs have spread across the world and are widely used. For example, the continuously developed ARCHICAD is one of the most popular architectural software products on the market today; and the ingeniously designed indoor lighting solutions by Inarchi have won the prestigious Red Dot Design Award.
Shaping Hungary features the most notable Hungarian inventions and industrial design solutions from recent years. The exhibition has already toured Europe with great success, and now it’s coming to Canada as a part of Hungary’s contribution to Canada’s 150 celebrations.
The exhibition is divided into four parts. Shaping Everydays showcases products that are designed to solve everyday issues, like helping kids fight the flu, displaying food to show its best features, and transporting personal objects on a bike.
Stunning lighting solutions, vertical sculptures, illuminated glass and innovative usage of concrete awaits visitors in the next section, titled Shaping the Environment. Make sure to check out the Semmelweiss Scanner as well, which will tell you whether you’ve washed your hands clean of all possible germs.
Breathtaking outdoor designs are showcased in the third section, called Shaping the World. Be amazed at complex eco-design systems, as well as beautiful wooden architecture and transparent building materials.
The final section is named Shaping the Future, and features ground-breaking multi-media animation that is employed in much more than simple entertainment. Watch the short animated movies, and check out how a complex graphic image can represent a whole institution (in this case, the Hungarian Academy of Music).
Shaping Hungary, along with a spectacular exhibition of fine arts of Canadian Hungarian artists and many cultural and family events, is displayed at the International Pavilion of NCC at 7 Clarence Street from September 30 to October 28.
How much do you know about the contribution of Hungarian Canadians to Canada? You will be surprised to learn about that if you visit the Hungarian exhibitions and cultural events. Download the full program from https://ottawa.mfa.gov.hu/eng/page/canada150.
