Tuesday, 24 August 2021

Chiyo Wagner was awarded the Knight's Cross

 The President of the Republic of Hungary János Áder awarded Mrs. Wagner Chiyo the founding President of Academia Humana Foundation the Knight's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit. It was presented to her by H.E. Norbert Palanovics Ambassador of Republic of Hungary in Tokyo today.

The solemn moment of the presentation

This special event was also attended by President Koji Akiyama and Mr. Norihiro Katada of the Wagner Nándor Foundation.

L to R: Mr. Norihiro Katada, Mr. Koji Akiyama, Mrs. Chiyo Wagner and H.E. Norbert Palanovics

Knight's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit
for Mrs. Chiyo Wagner

The award document emphasized Mrs. Chiyo Wagner's outstanding role in the development of Hungarian-Japanese cultural relations and taking care of artistic estate of sculptor Nándor Wagner.

It is a great day both for Academia Humana Foundation in Budapest and Wagner Nándor Foundation in Mashiko as well.

Photos: Koji Akiyama

Sunday, 18 April 2021

Moses Statue Presented to Krisztus Kiraly Catholic Church

 After 16 months of planning and preparation the Moses statue created by Nándor Wagner has been placed at Krisztus Király catholic church in Dunaujváros on the 16th of April.

Afternoon 15:00; the placement was completed

The name of Nándor Wagner is well-known in this city, which had the name Sztálinváros in the 1950-ies. His fountain composition Girl with Water Jar and Eight Frogs was the very first statue in that city, placed in 1954. The name of the city needs an explanation. This agricultural settlement was esteblished around the 10th century, and named Pentele after Saint Pantaleon. Due to the movement that Hungary should become the country of iron and steel during the socialist period the greenfield construction of a new industrial city started in 1949. The combined settlement was renamed Sztálinváros (Stalin City) in 1951. But after the Hungarian revolution of 1956 the new government gave the name Dunaújváros in 1961.

Girl with Water Jar and Eight Frogs

His wife Mrs. Chiyo Wagner paid several visit here. She was pleased to note that the fountain composition of her husband attracting so many young mother with children, that it was almost difficult to take a clean photo of it. The books written about Nándor were presented by her to the local József Attila library. 

The year 2019 brought the 150th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations with Japan and Mrs. Chiyo Wagner offered the Moses statue of her husband to commemorate the jubilee.

Nándor Baltási catholic parish priest has never heard about the Moses statue created by Nándor Wagner but he knew very well the Girl with Water Jar and Eight Frogs fountain's popularity. After a proper introduction by Tibor Bráda recognized painter and glass artist Nándor Baltási parish priest doubts arose that he could receive the statue as a gift. The church is a modern one constructed between 1993 and 2000, but they could not afford valuable art objects, so such a great gift finally was welcomed. Placing a statue of Moses is a sensitive matter, but it can be very effective in the right place, as in front of the main entrance. After having signed the contract between the Krisztus Király catholic church and Mrs. Chiyo Wagner it took 10 months to realize the placement. Please follow the placement in photos step by step  as below:

7:30; Pedestal arrived
9:18; Pedestal completed
Opening the wooden box at Dunagép Zrt. 
11:31; Statue of Moses was delivered to the main entrance of the church
Standing up Moses
Side view (photo: László Szundy)
15:00; Fixing the statue
Perfect placement! Working teams at the Moses statue
(photos: Sándor Kiss)

More (in Hungarian):
- Moses came from Japan to the Catholic church by DUOL news portal
- Pedestal adjustment DUOL photo galery
- Sculpture erection DUOL photo galery

Thursday, 15 April 2021

Spring Exhibition in Mashiko

 Despite of pandemic Mashiko has remained relatively safe place. It made possible to organize the spring exhibition at Wagner Nándor Art Gallery this season as well. The main topic is the statue of Moses created by Nándor Wagner in 1993. His statue placed on the side of the road of his studio frequently grabs the eye of the visitors. 

The poster of the Spring Exhibition

The exhibition space in Pentagon Gallery was given to the works of Wakabayashi Takae tapestry artist. A few samples of the collection can be seen here (auto play).

The Spring Exhibition is open from 15th of April to 15th of May, 2021.
Visitors are welcomed from 10:00 to 15:00. Closed on all Mondays.