Behind the Curtains - Presentation and Exhibition by Tamás Schild

Organized by the Liszt Institute New York, the photo exhibition and artist talk of acclaimed Hungarian photographer Tamás Schild will take place on October 7, 2025 at 6:30PM at the Consulate General of Hungary in New York.

PROGRAM DETAILS

• Belonging aka To be Beautiful Gypsy – Wonder what it can be like
• Backstage Ballerina
• Slaughterhouse Elegy

During this special artist talk and exhibition, Schild will showcase selections from three of his most compelling series. His earliest body of work, To Be Beautiful Gypsy – Wonder what it can be like, spans a remarkable 17 years of following a Roma family. Through this deeply personal narrative, Schild creates a subjective visual chronicle that underscores the universality of human vulnerability, fragility, abandonment, and transience—inviting viewers into a space of profound self-reflection.

His most recent project, Backstage Ballerina, turns its lens on the world of ballet. Far from romanticized portrayals, the series reveals both the rigor and hidden struggles behind the art form, capturing the relentless discipline and sacrifice required to perfect every movement. Thus far, Schild has focused on the backstage of modern ballet performances, though the planned continuation promises to offer rare insights into the world of classical ballet as well.

The third series, Slaughterhouse Elegy, presents a bold and provocative exploration of photography itself: is meaning found more in the subject matter or in the artist’s interpretation? Described by writer Mihály Surányi as “a visual prayer for all those who have fallen,” the collection stands as both a meditation and a challenge, prompting debate about the essence of photographic art.

Disclaimer: Slaughterhouse Elegy engages with sensitive subject matter and contains imager that some viewers may find disturbing.

The event is free of charge but registration is required. The event will be held in English.

About the artist

Tamás Schild was born in Komló in 1958. He got a master's degree in English in 1991 and then worked as a lecturer and interpreter. He shared his photographs for the first time in 2008, at the age of 50, and won first prize in the art category at Sajtófotó – POY that year with his entry entitled "Hommage a Van Gogh". Over the past decade and a half, he has won several awards for his photographs, has had solo shows inter alia in the European Month of Photography, EMOP, and the European Capital of Culture programmes. His images can be found in several Hungarian museums and private collections abroad, including the World Bank Arts Collection. He currently lives in Budapest.

Through his self-assigned documentary projects, he strives to present the drama of everyday human life with a personal touch. He works throughout Central Europe on a variety of topics.

The creation of his works was supported by the National Cultural Fund, the Robert Capa Center and the Association of Hungarian Photographers. Tamás Schild’s United States tour takes place under the patronage of the Cultural Exchange Foundation (Anita Semjén) and the Liszt Institute New York.

Host or Publisher Liszt Institute New York