Inside The Blockade: Occupy SZFE (2020)

The students of SzFE (University of Theatre and Film Arts, Budapest) occupied the buildings of their university to protest the measures the government imposed on them, as a result of which the Board of Trustees deprived their university of its autonomy. The blockade lasted for 71 days, during which students were continuously pressured by the new administration. Moments of exhaustion and hopelessness were followed by moments of euphoria, when, for example, 20,000 people participated in the national commemoration of the 1956 Revolution organized by the students.

The community decided early on not to allow entry for the press. However, I found it important that pictures be made within the blockade, and so I started to use my camera—as a student taking part in the occupation. This is the only material that has captured from such intimate closeness the most significant—and perhaps the most courageous—Hungarian oppositional movement in recent years.

My aim with this project is to show how this heterogeneous community has united in a previously unthinkable way. Fatigue, anxiety, and exhaustion have become part of life as participants pushed their boundaries, but invisibly so for the supporters, media, and our critics. I tried to capture the moments that reveal the melancholic perseverance of students as they momentarily emerged from the spiritual, mental, and physical noise.

Were we fearless? Brave? I do not think so, but we were desperate and angry. Our sense of justice pushed us forward and helped us defeat fear and uncertainty. From the outside, however, our actions seemed courageous. Many were empowered by how the community resisted the will of authority. Our many supporters were encouraging us and said we gave them hope that it is possible to say no, it is possible to stand up for our rights and our truth—this is what remains with us even after the blockade.

We overcame something that so far has been a fundamental characteristic of our society. We no longer wanted to remain dissatisfied without action. Something changed for us with the blockade: the meaning of fearlessness.

Special thanks to
Nóra Ilona Aujeszky, Gábor Bankó, Sára Bánky, Máté Bartha, Nóra Berényi, Panna Dominika Bíró, Lilla Borhi, Hanna Cseri, Hanna Darányi F., The Community of the Occupants of the University, Freeszfe Association, Dóra Gálosi, Anna Gerstmár, Ágoston Kenéz, Boglárka Koós, Máté Kőrösi, Attila L. Nagy, Jákob Ladányi Jancsó, Gabriella Medgyesi, Track Pompónia, Rácz Júlia, Barnabás Rohonyi, Máté Szórád, Judit Unger, Gergely Balázs Vajda, Gergely Váradi, Sára Zsille

On view:
Blinken OSA, 1st floor
From March 16 to May 22, 2022, Tuesday to Friday, from 10 am to 6 pm.

The exhibition is part of the fearless program series organized by Blinken OSA and Freeszfe Association.