Flaszter, the urban pavement, forms a surface: something we can write on, draw on, and build upon. At the same time, it conceals, covers, levels out, and renders things invisible. Sometimes the best thing to do with the pavement is to wear it down, sometimes to inhabit it, and sometimes to break it open. We walk its surface day after day, yet have little idea what lies beneath. It is much like the city itself: we think we know it, but we only ever encounter fragments and fleeting moments, and the bigger picture is constantly shifting.

The aim of this series of public art events is to draw attention to Budapest’s forgotten histories through contemporary artistic interventions, creating new opportunities for remembrance, experiencing the city from different perspectives, bringing invisible communities into view, and forging new connections. Today, the communal nature of public space is a site of conflicting desires and expectations: we often feel that it is precisely the “public” that is being pushed out of public space. To prevent this, we need to engage with the city in diverse ways, connect with its past, and actively shape its present. Contemporary art offers new perspectives and possibilities for doing so.

Coordinated by the Budapest History Museum – Budapest Gallery, the month-long programme will bring public artworks, performances, events, and encounters to various locations across the Hungarian capital, transforming urban spaces for both shorter and longer periods of time.