Pop up exhibition

Urban life surrounds us with a constant flow of sounds, images, events, and movement, creating an intense sensory overload. Even when we are simply walking down the street or spending time in a public space, there is always something demanding our attention. Within this constant flow, it becomes increasingly difficult to stop, to take a pause, and to notice the pauses themselves.

The exhibition follows the Japanese concept of ma (間) — the space between, the interval, the pause. It draws our attention to what happens between things, to the ways in which space influences our perception. An interval can itself become a meaningful moment, giving us time to stop and shift our attention. For example, in ikebana, the empty spaces between flowers and branches are an integral part of the composition. They create rhythm and allow us to perceive each element separately. The same principle can be found in pauses or moments of silence that shape sound or movement.

The exhibition creates a similar transition between the noise of the city and the quiet space of the tea house. The exhibition itself can, on the one hand, be perceived as a form of *ma* — a pause between the external, urban state and the internal one. Upon entering the space, we leave the city behind and move towards the tea ceremony.

On the other hand, this idea also manifests itself in the work of Marica Borbás-Tóth. In her practice, the artist explores ways of responding to the tensions of urban life, creating surfaces that can become a visual refuge from sensory overload. She turns to nature and plant forms, creating paintings that encourage us to look more slowly and attentively.

Marica’s works are characterised by deep colour and organic forms, yet they also leave spaces for pauses and emptiness within the image, allowing the eye to experience the rhythm of her works.

In this way, the exhibition becomes a moment of pause on different levels — an opportunity to slow down and notice what happens between objects, elements, things, and spaces.