Exhibition brings a new perspective of the world to Hungarian youth, though adults can also learn a thing or two
By Nathan Johnson
"What does a human being need to be happy? And how does the fulfilment of human needs affect the environment?"
These questions form the central theme of 'Mirror to the World', an exhibition currently touring major towns and cities of Hungary. The exhibition mainly targets children and young people, and aims to open up dialogue for discovering ethical, sustainable and harmonious lifestyles.
The Mirror to the World team, formed in 2006, brings together members of the Cellux Art Group and ZÖFI Hungarian Young Greens. Drawing on its shared strengths in art and creative expression, the team runs programmes in Hungary which teach environmental awareness and global solidarity.
The team offers the following workshops for youth aged 10-18: The Way We Live explores environmental challenges, ecological footprints and the Happy Planet Index; Our Food introduces the importance of local food production and fair trade; Cool Stuff? allows participants to create objects from recycled materials, to explore ways to prevent waste production, and to participate in sweatshop industry boycotts
The touring exhibition, which moves on Nov. 16 to Szekesfehervar, Hungary, draws inspiration from the 'All We Need' exhibition, which was shown in Luxembourg in 2007. That exhibition drew its inspiration from the work of Chilean economist and environmentalist Manfred Max-Neef, who in 1987 presented a 'taxonomy of human needs'. Max-Neef identified the following as 'fundamental human needs': subsistence, protection, affection, understanding, participation, leisure, creation, identity and freedom.
Adding a criterion of their own - 'dreaming' - the Mirror to the World team has constructed 10 thematic rooms, each composed of installations and interactive games. According to team member Panni Pais, the exhibit has been designed with flexibility in mind, in order to allow it to be easily broken down and assembled for viewing in a wide variety of venues.
The exhibition currently on tour is made possible with financial support from the Ökö-Pack non-profit company. The exhibition will show from Nov. 16 - Dec. 18 in Szekesfehervar, Hungary, at the Alba Regia Centrum
Write to tokorbenaviliag (at) zofi.hu for more exhibit information.
Click here to view a photo gallery of the exhibition.
Click here to watch a 4-minute video clip about the exhibition.
