To mark the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Trianon signed on 4 June 1920 splitting the territory of historic Hungary, the Hungarian National Museum organises a whole-nation photo exhibition from the photographs of the cultural and art monuments of the county’s torn parts using the Museum’s fences. (folk art, fine arts, music, architecture, sciences, literature, cinematography and photography)

The Year of National Unity Garden Gallery presents the cultural dimensions of Hungarian unity by exhibiting the photographs of the cultural, artistic, natural and architectural heritage of the parts torn in 1920. Culture is our common treasure and preserving power, the strong and cohesive root of people living in the Carpathian Basin.

Despite the border changes, the common values of Hungarians remained unchanged: their culture and identity expressed through Hungarian language, versatile artistic works and scientific abilities; and this spiritual heritage rooted in the past 1000 years can show a vision for all the people of the Hungarian nation, and especially for young Hungarians.

The exhibition’s objective on the one hand is to render the talent and creativity of Hungarian people visible, show what it means to be Hungarian for Hungarian people living in the annexed territories, remind that all Hungarians belong together across the borders, and that we need to act to preserve the unity of Hungarians. This will to act shall be passed on to Hungary’s youth together with the community’s living cultural heritage.

The exhibition also aims to represent the Hungarians’ historic and intellectual achievements, and the unique values of Hungarian culture for Hungarians living in Hungary and across the borders, and for the world’s public. The exhibition renders the talent and creativity of Hungarian people visible, and makes us aware that preserving the Hungarian spiritual unity takes active effort, and that the living cultural heritage of the community shall be passed on. 

On the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Trianon, learning from the mistakes of the past, everyone should understand that our region’s future lies in union and partnership and that the cultural heritage of the Carpathian Basin is an indivisible common property of all the people living here.

The Year of National Unity Garden Gallery is presented on the fences of the Hungarian National Museum also symbolising national cohesion, and will be accessible from September 29, 2020 to 4 July, 2021.