Generation on the Move
I photographed and interviewed fourteen young Hungarians living abroad. I visited them in Berlin, London, Gothenburg, and other European cities to talk about why they left, what they gained, and what they lost.
The work started from a personal experience: growing numbers of young people in my circle were moving abroad, while my son, Matyi, was reaching the age where this had become a real possibility for him as well.
I made the final interview with him. Although Matyi studies abroad, he doesn't yet know where he wants to live. I asked him to read through the conversations with the others, share his thoughts on them, and also talk about where he stands.
The interviews are in Hungarian. (2021-2025)
"...little is said about what we ourselves — not on a political but on a social level — could do to make the country more livable..."
"...I read a lot of contemporary Hungarian fiction. Literature is my way of staying connected to life in Budapest..."
"...My wife and I are certain we won't move back. We want to start a family, and life is hard for children in Hungary today if their parents are gay..."
"...I left after the elections… it wasn't just the politics that disappointed me — it was society itself, because in the end, we voted this government in..."
"...adventure and curiosity drove me too. I wanted to experience what living abroad was really like — and whether I could find my footing in an unfamiliar world..."
"...My best friend Dani went to a shop in Berlin and bought forty AA batteries, just to 'have them at home.' He said that if he buys that many batteries somewhere, it means he already feels at home there. I haven't bought forty AA batteries in Berlin yet..."
"...We mostly befriend other foreigners — perhaps because we're all in the same situation: we came from different countries and we're looking for new friends. We share the same 'fate', and are more open to one another..."
"...I knew even in high school that I wanted to live somewhere where looks don't matter, and where people are more open-minded. Openness and acceptance are core values for me..."
"...When I was looking for jobs, at every interview they kept asking where I was born. I said Hungary. Then came: 'But where are you really from?'..."
"...Many people say that if you go abroad, you have to start everything from scratch. That's not entirely true — your experience and knowledge don't disappear. It was thanks to my portfolio that I got my first commissions and found a manager..."
"...Because of the current political situation I definitely wouldn't go back, but if the leadership were different, perhaps yes. Hungary could be a fantastic place. I love the people, and the country is beautiful..."
"...In Manchester my girlfriend and I live in a nice apartment, in a lovely neighborhood... My friends in Budapest aren't earning enough yet to move out of home..."
"...In Berlin, tolerance is simply the norm, and that makes it so much easier to raise your children to be open to the world..."
"...At home we cook both Hungarian and Spanish dishes. I love that our everyday life reflects the fact that we are built from two cultures..."
