Visit to the Land of the Rising Sun. Photographs taken in Japan by naval physician Dezső Bozóky

"Japan! ... Is there a man in whose heart this word does not resonate? At least I cannot imagine an educated European who does not have, or has not had, the desire to see this fairy-tale country with his own eyes."

Dr. Dezső Bozóky (1871, Oradea /Nagyvárad/ – 1957, Budapest) is one of the less-known Hungarian world travellers, who as a doctor in the service of the Austro-Hungarian Imperial and Royal Navy, had the opportunity to travel twice to the Orient: in 1905-1906 to Greek and Turkish territories, and in 1907-1909 to Far Eastern waters. During his second voyage, which lasted twenty-six months, their ship made several calls at the most important ports of China, Korea and Japan. Bozóky recorded his experiences in newspaper articles and in a two-volume travelogue entitled Two Years in East Asia. During his lifetime he donated part of his art collection (mostly Chinese works of art) to the Ferenc Hopp Museum of Asiatic Arts. His photographic collection was transferred there after his death.

As a physician, he was often able to access places and sites where an ordinary tourist would not have been welcome. During his travels, he bought a lot of postcards as well, and captured on his glass slides mainly those subjects, places and views that were not available in any other form, which borrows his photographs a unique documentary value. Bozóky left an incomparably valuable photographic legacy for the posterity. 

Half of the approximately 100 photographs he took in Japan, namely 52 of them, are included in the exhibition. The exhibition material has been selected by Tamás Katkó, curator and director of the Kolta Gallery.

Venue
Kolta Galéria – Háló Közösségi és Kulturális Központ
(1052 Budapest, Semmelweis u. 4.)

Opening hours:
Monday - Friday: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Partner:

Sponsors: Szerencsejáték Service Nonprofit Kft.