Transcarpathian Day in Brussels – 5th edition

The Transcarpathian Day in Brussels is organised for the fifth time and aims to bring the cultural richness of the Transcarpathian region to the wider public. It will take place on 19th November 2019 at Balassi Institute in Brussels.

The event will feature the photo exhibition “My Transcarpathia” by László Bocskor, followed by the performance The Flowers of the Gulag by the National Theater of Hungary, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the málenkij robot (Russian malenkaya rabota, meaning “little work”), the start of the forced labour of Hungarians in the Soviet Union.

The event is organized by Andrea Bocskor, Member of the European Parliament.

László ‘HOBO’ Földes: The Flowers of the Gulag – Document drama with music

Poems, short stories, anecdotes, happy and sad songs will spring up even at the most horrific places in the world. The Gulag, a generic term for the Soviet labour camps where millions of innocent prisoners, including several hundred thousand Hungarians, were tortured and terminated, was such a place. As a tribute to their memory, Hobo collected some of these artistic expressions into a bunch of flowers of Gulag.

The play shows a slice of the life in the Gulag through the destiny of a boy born during the Second World War in a Soviet occupied area. The scene takes place in the 1960’s, under Brezhnev’s leadership. In the lager Perm 36 they are preparing to celebrate November the 7th (the day of the Great Socialist Revolution). The prisoners are forced to participate: as an actor or an author. They have to praise the system which detains them – macabre absurdity.

Actors: László ’HOBO’ Földes, József Rácz
Director: Attila Vidnyánszky

My Transcarpathia” photo exhibition

The photo collection of 53 photos made by László Bocskor photographer represents the characteristics of the Transcarpathian landscape, together with its architectural heritage giving a clear view about the Hungarian roots, past and present of the region. László Bocskor claimed that these photos are not artistic, rather the documentation of the reality, since his primary consideration was the accurate portrayal of Transcarpathia for those who have never been there.

The photos would like to draw attention to the Hungarian minority living in Transcarpathia and the values which helped them survive a number of historical storms and ordeals. These values are: Christian faith, mother tongue education, historical monuments, folk traditions and cultural heritage. One of the messages of the exhibition is that in the present we have to preserve our past for the future. These photos stand for the home and the motherland to the Hungarians in Transcarpathia and at the same time they contain every pain of the 100-year long dispersion of the Hungarians and the challenges of the minority life. Once Dobó, Perényi, Rákóczi or Ilona Zrínyi were standing on these ramparts. Hungarian people laid down the stones of the churches, painted the coffered ceilings to proclaim the glory of God.

Location : Balassi Institute Brussels
The event will feature a photo exhibition of László Bocskor entitled “My Transcarpathia”, followed by the performance of the Gulag Flowers of the National Theater on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Malinki robot.

More info about the events can be found on the website of Balassi Institute.
Photo source: Balassi Institute