The Kiscelli Museum in Budapest is offering an immersive look at the evolution of telephony with its new temporary exhibition ‘Hello? Hello!’, on view through 18 January. The exhibition traces the development of telephone technology and its cultural impact from the late 19th century to the present day.
At the press preview, museum director and co-curator Roland Perényi explained that the show aims to go beyond the technical evolution of telephones. It also explores how these devices have shaped society, communication habits, and cultural norms.
Curated by Roland Perényi, Károly Bende, and Loránd Balla, the exhibition fills nine rooms in the museum’s atmospheric rock cellar. It features more interactive elements than any previous display at Kiscelli. Visitors can not only see and touch historic phones but also make calls using vintage devices connected via functioning lines provided by Magyar Telekom, a key supporter of the project.
The exhibition’s ambience is enhanced by curated soundscapes, including classic ringtones, recorded conversations, and film clips. One highlight includes footage of the first transatlantic phone call between Washington and Budapest.
The collection is built from the museum’s own technical archive and enhanced with rare pieces on loan from private collectors and public institutions, including the Postamuseum, Budapest City Archives, and the Szabó Ervin Library. Among the artefacts are antique switchboards, wall-mounted phones, and iconic public payphones.
‘Notable historical objects include a manually operated switchboard used on Miklós Horthy’s private train…’
The thematic layout of the rooms allows visitors to explore various aspects of telephone culture—ranging from the rise of domestic and industrial telephone manufacturing to the societal effects of public telephony and vandalism. Special work-related phones such as servant-call systems and fire alarm units are also on display.
Notable historical objects include a manually operated switchboard used on Miklós Horthy’s private train and a miniature office exchange from János Kádár’s workplace.
Contemporary art installations and projects also appear throughout the show, using the telephone as a motif to reflect on modern communication.
‘Hello? Hello!’ invites audiences of all ages to connect with the rich and resonant story of how a single invention changed the way we communicate.
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