"The exhibition "Herend Design" by Ákos Tamás is a special event in the cultural life of Veszprém. It is special as the Herend porcelain itself is a speciality in the world of crafts and arts. And before you ask me "what's a mayor doing in a porcelain shop?", I'll tell you: I'm an admirer of Ákos Tamás' art, too! Ákos Tamás - I can safely say - knows everything about porcelain!
Not only what you need to know, but what you can know about this unique material. Porcelain, whose origins and history go back thousands of years. The works now on display in the Castle Gallery of Dubniczay Palace are stunning and unparalleled.
Ákos Tamás has been working for Herendi Porcelain Manufactory as a designer for almost four decades. He knows everything there is to know about porcelain in practice, applying his knowledge with a sure hand to the objects he creates. Ákos Tamás has not only created certain works of art or sets during the decades spent practicing his craft. I believe he has created a real world of porcelain. A world whose value rivals only its beauty and fragility.
But porcelain is not only a special material, it is also a controversial one! The weight and resistance of the material meets the light airiness of the spirit, which makes porcelain objects almost alive. From the harmony of beauty and fragility, aesthetics and practicality the art of porcelain was born, which made Herend as well known in the world as the artist, Ákos Tamás.
Veszprém is in the fortunate position of being at the crossroads of artists and artists' paths. It is a place that has been visited by museums for almost a thousand years. The Herend Porcelain Manufactory has become an independent factor in the world of porcelain in the spiritual aura of Veszprém. It has become a sought-after brand that is fashionably referred to as 'hungaricum'. Herend porcelain has achieved world fame, but this fame did not come out of nowhere. It has been backed by talented and passionate designers and craftsmen such as Ákos Tamás, who I would perhaps not exaggerate to call the 'poet of porcelain'.
The works on display here will convince anyone of the creative poetry of Ákos Tamás's art, the so-called "creativity", which has created a brand new world using an ancient material - porcelain. Each object has its own practicality and thoughtfulness in the creative world of Ákos Tamás. Part of the success of Ákos Tamás, the outstanding contemporary master of Herend porcelain stems from his understanding of porcelain as a utilitarian object. Even when we are talking about decorative objects, small sculptures, statues Ákos Tamás porcelain is, so to speak 'in use'. This is also true of the public works that we can see in Veszprém: Veszprém "uses" these works and what is in use is somehow preserved!
As a citizen of Veszprém, a friend and admirer of art Ákos Tamás' art is a personal experience for me. And it is a source of pride that from Italy to Japan, in many countries of the world our countryman has brought the art of porcelain to success and that he is able to renew not only the world of porcelain, but also his own artistic vision. World fame and attachment to the Hungarian land, the constraints of the material and the free flight of the spirit, the preservation and constant change of forms make these works particularly exciting, and I wish all visitors an intimate moment and unforgettable experiences!"
Introduction by Mayor Gyula Porga
