In the Heart of Berlin: A Meeting of Body and Memory at Collegium Hungaricum – “Körper und Erinnerungen” Exhibition

As Berlin’s famous winter chill drifts between the historic buildings of Dorotheenstraße, the doors of Collegium Hungaricum Berlin open to those seeking to warm their soul with art. Opened on 14 November 2025 and continuing until 20 February 2026, the exhibition “Körper und Erinnerungen. Werke aus der Antal-Lusztig-Sammlung” (Body and Memories. Works from the Antal-Lusztig Collection) invites the viewer not merely to a selection of paintings, but to a romantic and mystical journey echoing through the depths of Hungarian art. Every work on display whispers, like a silent scream reverberating on the gallery walls, that memories can become immortal in defiance of the transience of flesh.

This captivating exhibition brings together some of the rarest figurative works of Hungarian art from the post-1945 period, melting together the concepts of form, role, memory, and myth in a single crucible. Curated with meticulous care by Krisztián Gábor Török and presented in collaboration with MODEM Centre for Modern and Contemporary Arts in Debrecen, the collection treats the human body not merely as a biological form, but as a map upon which history and individual experience have been inscribed. As art lovers wander among these priceless pieces from the Antal-Lusztig Collection, they bear witness to Hungary’s societal and spiritual transformation from the post-war period to the present day.

The exhibition’s vast lineup of artists feels almost like a parade of stars. Margit Anna’s naïve yet deeply melancholic figures, Endre Bálint’s surrealist touches, and László Fehér’s indelible shadows lend the show a profound melancholy. From Lili Ország’s historical labyrinths to Béla Kondor’s powerful imagery, from László Lakner’s shattering narratives to El Kazovszkij’s uncanny universe, this wide spectrum questions humanity’s place in the world and the fragility of existence. Enriched by contributions from László Méhes, Tamás Soós, Katalin Káldi, József Szurcsik, and others, the selection transforms the body into myth and memories into tangible realities.

Running until 20 February 2026 at Dorotheenstraße 12, this artistic rite offers one of the most romantic refuges in Berlin’s cold days—a place where one can retreat into their own inner world. Through the Antal-Lusztig Collection, Collegium Hungaricum Berlin reminds us: Bodies fade, but the stories they carry, once woven into art, live on forever. If your path takes you to the centre of Berlin, do not miss the chance to take part in this unique dance between flesh and history—and to find a fragment of your own memories in the heart of Hungarian art.

Exhibition Details:

Venue: Collegium Hungaricum Berlin (Dorotheenstraße 12, 10117 Berlin)

Dates: Until 20 February 2026

Exhibition Title: Körper und Erinnerungen (from the Antal-Lusztig Collection)

Curator: Krisztián Gábor Török

Featured Artists: Margit Anna, Endre Bálint, László Fehér, Béla Kondor, Lili Ország, László Lakner, and others.