May the Zithers
Sing Merrily!

Scenography, visual identity,
and exhibition design at the
Museum of Ethnography
Budapest.

2025

Exhibitions
Museums

Fields

Visual Identity
Editorial
Motion Graphics
Installation

Services

The exhibition focuses primarily on introducing zithers used within Hungarian-speaking regions, with the curator selecting pieces from the Museum of Ethnography's Instrument Collection. Visitors will also gain detailed insights into the organological (instrument-related) characteristics of zithers, their structural features, tuning methods, and the occasions for playing them. The first zithers entered the museum at the end of the 19th century. In addition to the current collection of 150 zithers, other primarily international collections house a further 50 zither-type artefacts — the oldest of which dates back to 1868. Over time, the collection has grown with the contributions of renowned instrument makers, including Zsigmond Tuka, Sándor Budai, János Nácsa, and Mihály Bársony.

Alongside the nearly 90 instruments on display, the experience is enriched by 20 audio recordings and 3 films

A highlight of the exhibition is that it not only presents Hungarian zither traditions but will also be complemented by a sensational addition from 21 March 2025: a selection from the Chongqing Three Gorges Museum in China will introduce the ancient Chinese instrument, the guqin, to the Hungarian audience.