Lala Tóth: Undressing the Past

The title of this display, kivetkőzés, refers to the process in which the peasantry abandoned traditional rural folk attire and began dressing according to urban aesthetics. Textile artist Lala Tóth explores this transition in her sculptures, drawing inspiration from the work of photographer Péter Korniss, who documented the decline of peasant culture through clothing. Although the abandonment of folk attire had various causes— economic factors, a perceived path to social mobility, comfort, fear, or rebellion—personal accounts indicate that for those involved, this act was a significant and emotionally burdensome milestone. Clothing often serves as a means of self-expression, yet the re lationship between an individual and their attire is mutual—this dynamic explains the identity-shaping power of the decision to shift away from traditional clothing.

The dress sculptures symbolize folk attire that has now been emptied of its original meaning—fragile yet monumental memorials of traditional Hungarian garments. They are made of knitted fabric, alluding to the now-vanished inner essence that once filled and stretched the material from within. During the creative process, Lala Tóth studied the attire of Hungarian-inhabited regions, using their schematic silhouettes as a starting point. The two works are based on the folk costumes of Szék and the Lower Garam region. Although the garment sculptures can stand on their own as works of art, they take on additional meaning when placed around the human body. In the documentation process, models wore contemporary formal clothing, while the celebratory folk dress—representing their heritage—hovered around them as an additional layer. Their significance is now furthered within the context of the Museum of Ethnography. Together with the museum’s collection, they reflect on how the dynamic relationship between the form and content of traditional attire shapes various interpretations and behaviours among those who wear them. In this regard, they also raise questions about how the study of folk costumes can be conceptualized within the framework of museum collection practices.

Material and technique: polyester yarn and resin, coloured with pigment powder
Concept and execution: Lala Tóth
The sculptures were created in 2021 as part of the Future Traditions semester
course within the Master’s Program in Fashion and Textile Design at Moho-
ly-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME).
Advisors: Judit Bráda, Adrienn Nagy, and Edit Katona
Text: Veronika Budavári, Lala Tóth
Photography: Daniella Grinberg