21 June, Wednesday – 3 July, Monday | Hírös Agora | Kodály room
Opening: 21 June | Wednesday 17:30
The exhibition is opened by animated film director Éva M Tóth
In March this year, a new Hungarian animated feature film entered the cinemas, titled Four Souls of Coyote, created by the director of The District!, Áron Gauder. This time the artist turned to a universal story, retelling a Native American creation myth with the mythic figure of Coyote in its centre. Through the adaptation of the creation of the universe, the film gives an overview of the history of Native American civilization, which is now endangered by technological advancement, and without which irreplaceable knowledge will be lost—along with a chance for true happiness. The story searches for the answer to pressing questions such as how we can live in harmony with nature before it’s too late for the planet.
Visitors of the exhibition can learn about the production secrets of the animated feature film on which a crew of 120 worked for seven years, and they can have a look at the director’s drawings relevant to the project, the film’s character and background designs, sketches and storyboard.
The exhibition also displays a collection of the Native American photos, records and books that inspired Áron Gauder. But the director does not only know Native American customs and myths from books: he has a personal connection to these as a member of a Hungarian “Native American” tribe, who himself likes to leave behind urban civilization every once in a while. He will exhibit his Native American tools too, which he made by hand during these “retreats”.
On the screens placed in the exhibition area, visitors can watch excerpts of the animated film, its work-in-progress videos showing instances of the creative process, interviews with the artists, and even the shorts titled Coyote and the Rock and Coyote and Wasichu, which were also inspired by Native American stories, made before the feature film.
The exhibition will include the poster designs of the director, of which only one was used for the cinemas in the end. Moreover, visitors will have a chance to experience the joy of creation first hand.
