On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, Palazzo Falconieri presents an exhibition dedicated to Ata Kandó (1913–2017) and the photographs she created during one of the most dramatic moments in Hungarian history.
In November 1956, together with Violette Cornelius, Ata Kandó travelled to the Austro-Hungarian border to document the flight of families, children and young people seeking safety.
These photographs gave rise to the renowned Piros könyv (Red Book), published in an exceptionally short time, with all proceeds devoted to supporting Hungarian refugees.
That same year, during the summer she spent in Italy, Ata Kandó created, together with her children, the photographic series Odyssey. Inspired by Homer's epic poem, these images evoke the themes of journey, family memory, imagination and the search for a home.
Kandó’s photographs are not merely a record of events. Through a gaze capable of combining attentiveness, empathy and engagement, they tell the stories of people, their relationships and the drama of displacement.
Ata Kandó 1956 – Odyssey invites visitors to encounter these images as a reflection on memory, solidarity and the journey between historical reality and imagination.
The exhibition is an adaptation of Odyssey: The Personal and Collective Stories of Ata Kandó, presented in 2025 as part of the Pécs Photo Spring Festival at m21 Gallery (Zsolnay Cultural Quarter), curated by Gabriella Csizek and Krisztina Erdei.
Ata Kandó’s photographic legacy, including her negatives and vintage prints, is preserved at the Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam.
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