Remarks by Istvan Perosa, Minister, Hungarian Embassy, Tokyo

It is an honor and a privilege to have this opportunity to address you at the opening ceremony of this unique photo exhibition. Its uniqueness lies not in the subject, since the Big Apple, the majestic city of New York has been photographed by millions of both amateurs and professionals. Its uniqueness lies not in the venue, either, since Tokyo is the sister city of the North American metropolis. What makes this exhibition unique, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the fact, that these pictures of an American city, on display in the Japanese capital today, were taken by a Hungarian photographer, Mr. Tamás Révész.

Hungarian photographers are widely known and recognized all over the world. André Kertész or Robert Capa, who had a highly successful exhibition here in Tokyo last fall, are household names among photo aficionados. People often wonder what makes these artists stand out from the crowd of talented photographers whose pictures we can see in the media or in exhibitions like this one day after day. Rumor has it that it is that special Hungarian approach, combining what’s visible to the human eye with what’s perceptible only to the human soul. I am confident that the pictures on display here today will prove to you all, beyond any doubt, the power of this visual sensitivity, characteristic of my fellow Hungarians.

The pictures we are going to see today were shot by a Hungarian American, not by an American of Hungarian origin. I’ve made this distinction on purpose, since Mr. Révész had lived and worked in Hungary till 1997, when he won the right to become an American resident through Visa Lottery. Unlike most famous Hungarians, Mr. Révész had become internationally recognized and appreciated while living in his mother country, where he had published 10 books. He is the holder of several awards and prizes, including the Pulitzer Memorial Award, which he received in 1997, just before moving to America.

This exhibition was organized with the endorsement of the Sister City Program of the City of New York. To my knowledge, New York has 10 sister cities all around the world, including Tokyo and Budapest, capital city of Hungary. I have just learned, to my great pleasure, that these pictures are going to be displayed in the not too distant future in the National Gallery of Budapest, too.

As a conclusion, I would like to express my most heartfelt gratitude to the Japanese organizers of this exhibition, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper and Asahi TV for making this event possible. May I wish you, Ladies and Gentlemen, a mmorable evening and thank you for your kind attention.

Istvan Perosa, Minister is in center.
Ambassador Howard Baker and Tamas Revesz

UMU Gallery,
Roppongi Hills, Tokyo
JULY 22, 2004