On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the revolution in Hungary, the Museum of Photography WestLicht is showing 150 original photographs by internationally renowned photographers - including numerous vintage prints from the private archive of the Austrian Magnum legend Erich Lessing, who shaped the image of the Hungarian revolution like no other.

In addition to the uprising and its bloody suppression, the pictures also document the subsequent stream of refugees that brought more than 180,000 people to Austria. The wave of solidarity with which they were received, at least initially, burned itself deeply into the collective Austrian memory. WestLicht contrasts this with current images by press photographers and photo artists dealing with the refugee situation at the Hungarian border in the previous year. Federal Chancellor Christian Kern also spanned this arc on Wednesday evening in his speech at the opening of the exhibition: "In 1956, the American President Eisenhower thanked us for this heroic story of humanity. And also at the beginning of the current refugee movement, Austria's civil society has shown itself from its very best side. That is why people who have a positive view of the world must not remain silent and must prove wrong those who today would prefer to build walls around Austria or even around the whole of Europe. That is why this exhibition is so impressive."

We are pleased to be able to present another highlight in the anniversary year with Hungary 56th Pictures of a Revolution, emphasises museum director Peter Coeln. After 15 years, the Museum of Photography WestLicht can look back on more than one hundred exhibitions and more than one million visitors.

Photos: Marlene Fröhlich/luxundlumen