Modern Etnikum III. (Árkád Galéria, Budapest, 1991)
INTRODUCTION Modern ethnics—the interesting title catches our attention.lt symbolizes that fifteen designers have formed a team to explore how folk-art can be used in an attractive and up-to-date way at the end of the 20th century. However, they didn't mean to directly 'translate' the folkloristic elements into the language of fashion, but intended to indirectly remind the spectators that folk-art is inexhaustible and still abounds in ideas. The inspiration of folk-art from different countries—Hungary, Transylvania, Scotland, Norway, Peru can be easily recognized in this exhibition. Very different pieces, made with dissimilar approaches and techniques, can be seen here side by side. One of them has genuine folk embroidery matched with its fashionable form. The second is produced of original folk material with popular cut, having astonishingly modern ornaments on it. The third one makes the patterns of cross-stitched embroidery adaptable for machine-knit pullovers. The fourth uses folkloristic elements preserving the ancient cutting lines to create models wich are models gorgeous and fine in their simplicity. And these are selected examples only. The readers can get acquainted with the works and views of the 15 artists on the following pages. Modern applications of ethnic elements give a good opportunity for the designers to excel by their individual taste in the flood of fashion supply of the world. This could make Budapest a fashion center, like it used to be 50—100 years ago. Wishing the artists further success in their work, I hope I'll have the chance to call your attention to a new, similar exhibition next year again. Katalin Dózsa art-historian