Collective volume examines Hungarian art under Kádár's state socialist regime

Released in 2018 by Thames & Hudson, 'Art in Hungary, 1956-1980: Doublespeak and Beyond,' under the editorship of Edit Sasvári, Sándor Hornyik, and Hedvig Turai, explores the artistic landscape during the era of János Kádár. This compilation features seventeen chapters divided into four distinct sections: Institutions, Discourses, Disguises, and Speech Acts. It delves into the tensions between Marxist-Leninist ideology and Western influences, highlighting a tripartite art environment comprising state-endorsed art, national conservative modernism, and a sidelined neo-avant-garde. Significant themes include the development of figurative art, neo-avant-garde methodologies, and educational initiatives led by Dóra Maurer and Miklós Erdély. The text contextualizes Hungarian art within the broader East-Central European framework, acknowledging historical traumas and the contributions of overlooked women artists, while referencing Georg Lukács's concept of a 'subterranean' public sphere and the idea of 'doublespeak.'