The familiar, Made Strange by the intervention of artists serves to extend our perceptions of the material and metaphysical worlds. In this exhibition a number of young sculptors from Britain effect this, through their examination and interpretation of our physical environment and spiritual experience. First shown earlier this year in Oslo at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, the exhibition was selected by the chief curator and deputy director, Karin Hellandsj. The Visual Arts Department of the British Council worked closely with Ms Hellandsj and the artists on the realisation of the exhibition, and it is with great pleasure that we now have the opportunity of showing our work in Budapest. This is the first occasion that The British Council has collaborated with the Ludwig Museum Budapest, but its director Katalin Néray, is an old friend. We extend our warmest thanks to her for inviting us to participate in the museum’s programme of international contemporary art exhibitions. We should also like to thank the artists for their hard work and commitment to the exhibition. Many have helped us to find alternative work for Made Strange, and some pieces have been made especially for this showing. Collectors and galleries have extended their loans, and this has allowed us to achieve a fine selection of work, which shows some of the very best sculpture being made by Britain's younger generation of artists.
Finally, The Henry Moore Foundation, which administers the legacy of Henry Moore, has given financial support which has enabled us to bring the exhibition to Budapest. We thank the Trustees and the Foundation's Director, Sir Alan Bowness, for their help and generosity. As Moore's retrospective closed at the Museum of Fine Arts, we are given the exciting opportunity to follow immediately with new sculpture from Britain on this side of the river Danube.
