The EthnoEco Group's presentation at the Karol Wojtyla Friendship Center about the 'Faces of hunger' exhibition

Members of the EthnoEco group – Borka Bazsó, Dóri Nagy, and Anna Tihanyi – were invited by the Wojtyla Friendship Center in Kecskemét on May 29, 2025, to give a presentation on the exhibition Faces of Hunger. 

The Karol Wojtyla Friendship Center operates as a charitable organization aiming to support the poor, the vulnerable, and the hungry in Kecskemét with food, donations, and a wide range of cultural and community-building programs. One such cultural event was the lecture given by the museum staff, which explored the multifaceted aspects of hunger as a social and cultural phenomenon, in relation to the themes of the exhibition. Among the audience were both the staff of the Friendship Center and the people in their care. 

The exhibition, hosted as a guest exhibit from the Ethnographic Museum in Zagreb, was on display at the Museum of Ethnography in Budapest from November 2024 to January 2025. It covered topics such as the fight against hunger, hunger as a political tool, and the relationship between hunger and the body. While primarily illustrated with examples from Croatian and world history, the exhibit was supplemented with materials from the Museum of Ethnography’s collections and included data and information relevant to Hungary. 

The presentation also discussed the role of public kitchens and aid organizations at the beginning of the century, as well as foods people often relied on during times of scarcity or war. Among wartime inventions was the so-called “war omelette,” also known as tócsni (a type of potato pancake). The lecture invited the audience to engage in conversation about the edibility of various well-known or lesser-known herbs and natural food sources. It became clear just how many types of "famine foods" existed: corn, for instance, became a staple in hard times. The discussion also touched on the use of medicinal herbs like elderflower, dandelion, plantain, and nettle not only for healing but also as food. 

Through examples from the museum’s collections, other important topics were also explored that characterized everyday life in peasant societies. The presentation addressed different methods of food preservation, with a special emphasis on drying. Many folk customs in rural communities also included elements and symbols that expressed hope for a bountiful harvest in the coming year—such as the green Christmas branch or the red Easter egg. 

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Karol Wojtyla Friendship Center for the invitation!