Zsófi Szabó, a freelance designer based in Budapest, Hungart, started a series of souvenir books titled Kis Hungarikumhatározók (in eng. Little Hungaropedia) as her diploma project back in 2011. The serie, which has now grown into a series of 6, are about giving a taste of the local culture for tourists visiting Hungary, showcasing interesting places, traditional goods, local cuisine, and other local stuff, with a tongue-in-cheek attitude.
The little hungaropedias come in pocket-size and are available in English, Hungarian and Italian. The concept of “hungaropedia” is deliberately interpreted in a sarcastic manner, thinking that basically anything related to Hungary; landscape, building, animal, concept, tradition, people, can be “hungarinized”. Not meant as a traditional travel guide, but as as encyclopedia of local culture and customs. The six parts: the Little Balatonopedia, Little Bathopedia, Little Clichépedia, Little Marketopedia, Little Pubopedia, and the Little Pálinkapedia, each take an indepth look into a specific cultural phenomenon. The books a re written by Hungarian contemporary writers and artists with every book done by a different author, thus every part having a unique point of view. The series shares light on the real Hungarian essence, shattering the stereotypical image of a country full melancholy.
Images © Zsófi Szabó