Dear Köztérkép community,

My name is Graziela Ares, and I am a PhD candidate in the Discourses: Culture, History, and Society program at the University of Coimbra (Portugal). I am currently researching the transformation of Kossuth Square since 2011, with a special focus on its monuments.

Köztérkép has been one of my main research sources. It has been invaluable not only for locating monuments in space and time, but also for offering a platform where people share their interest in public art and monuments. I am currently analyzing images and information related to more than twelve monuments that have either occupied the square before 2011 or are present there now. My goal is to document their material and symbolic transformation over time. I’ve been collecting news links, historical references, and learning a lot from user contributions about how these monuments are perceived and experienced.

First and foremost, I want to thank every member of this community for the amazing and important work you do. Your contributions have been extremely useful for my research and learning.

The next stage of my project involves empirical fieldwork, including interviews with people who have opinions or memories related to the transformation of the square — regardless of whether they support the Imre Steindl Program or not. I am looking for English-speaking individuals with an interest in monuments and a thoughtful perspective on Kossuth Square to participate in interviews. That’s why I’m reaching out to this community — to invite you to be part of this project, if you have the time and interest.

Here are some details about the interviews:

- I plan to conduct interviews in person (preferably at Kossuth Square, as I am currently based in Budapest), or online if needed.

- The interviews will be conducted in English, audio-recorded for transcription purposes, and will last 1 to 2 hours. If anyone feels a deep connection to the square and would like to talk for longer, I’d be more than happy to continue the conversation.

- Participation is voluntary, and all information collected will be anonymous in my dissertation and any resulting publications.

- Participants will be asked to sign a simple consent form, in line with GDPR and ethical research standards.

- I plan to conduct the interviews in October–November 2025 or April 2026, but I would like to schedule them in advance.

- I hope to interview between 5 and 15 people, ideally from diverse backgrounds.

- The monuments of interest are at least (but not limited to these): Count Gyula Andrássy (Austro-Hungarian Empire), Lajos Kossuth and his political allies (Revolution of 1848–1849), Count István Tisza (Austro-Hungarian Empire), National Martyrs' Memorial (1918–1919), Ferenc Rákóczi II (18th century), Count Mihály Kárólyi (First Hungarian Republic 1918–1919), poet Attila József, Symbolic Tomb to the Victims of the 1956 Massacre, Imre Nagy Statue, Eternal Flame of the 1956 Revolution, Béla Kovács Monument, and the Memorial to National Unity (100 years of Trianon).

PLEASE note that the objective is not to assess what you know about the monuments or historical events, but how is your relation with them, how you describe them and what memories and feelings they trigg on you. In another words, I am interested on how you are connected (or not) with the monument and the square.

If you’re interested in participating or know someone who might be, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Also, feel free to share this message with others.

Thank you very much for your time and attention.

Best regards,
Graziela Ares
PhD Candidate – Discourses: Culture, History, and Society, University of Coimbra (FEUC, FLUC, CES)
Fellow – FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal)
Junior Researcher – Center for Social Studies, University of Coimbra
Erasmus+ Intern – HUN-REN BTK Institute of History, Budapest (2023–2024)
📧 ares.graziela@gmail.com
Institutional webpage: https://ces.uc.pt/en/doutoramentos/doutorandos-as/graziela-ares