The President of Hungary H. E. János Áder has awarded Kate Wacz the Order of Merit of Hungary Knight’s Cross for her dedication to the remembrance of the Hungarian Holocaust and its victims as well as for her selfless and genuine engagement through many decades preserving and raising awareness about the deeds and heroic efforts of Raoul Wallenberg, Per Anger, Nina and Waldemar Langlet, Monsignore Verrolino and Giorgio Perlasca who saved the lives of thousands of Hungarian Jews.
Kate Wacz survived the Holocaust with her mother and brother in one of the protected Wallenberg houses in Budapest. Kate arrived to Sweden after the Second World War and took an active role in remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust and particularly those who saved the Hungarian Jews. She had a key role when Wallenberg’s office room in the Army Museum and the Wallenberg memorial room in Lidingö were created. She is a honorary member of the Hungarian Wallenberg Association and one of the initiators of the annual Wallenberg secondary school competition organised in Hungary. Among many other efforts she has also supported the Wallenberg opera composed by world famous Swedish composer Ulf Björlin. In her efforts her husband Miklós Wácz who has recently passed away, was a solid pillar and wonderful partner. For their deeds they also received the Benemerenti Medal from Pope Benedict XVI.
The President of Hungary, H. E. János Áder has awarded to Gustav Kraitz the Order of Merit of Hungary Knight’s Cross for his artistic achievement through many decades and for his sculptures in many public places all around the world, including those paying tribute to Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg
Gustav Kraitz was born in Hungary, in Miskolc. After the Second World War, as a young student of the Art Academy of Budapest he was taken by the Sovjet troops to GULAG, to a force labor camp for five years where only few survived. After returning to Budapest he finished his art studies and focused on ceramics. He left Hungary in 1956 and finally arrived to Sweden.
He met his wife the painter and artist Ulla Kraitz and since they have run together many beautiful and internationally recognised art projects and created many exhibitions, like the one in the Capital Museum in Bejing or in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC or in museums in Sweden, Germany, not the least their recent exhibition „The pillows” in the Sven Harrys Museum, in Stockholm. The Wallenberg briefcase and the Hope monument at the UN Headquater in New York are flagships but they are well know about the Apples in San Fransisco and many more public and playing sculptures in various countries. The sculpture of the prestige award of the Swedish opera singer Brigit Nilsson was also created by them.
Gustav Kraitz has gained international recognition by his achievements in sculpture and ceramic art which exceptionally combine the traditions of thousands of years of Chinese ceramic technique with modern contemporary visual appearance expressing deep messages and important values.
Gustav Kraitz has been living in Sweden for more than 60 years but he also had close ties to many projects in Hungary. We admire his endless energy including his new initiative to build a cultural centre in Bastad, Southern Sweden.
The state decorations were presented by Csaba Balogh State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry and Adrien Müller Ambassador of Hungary to Sweden at the 15the March National Day Concert organised by the Embassy on 13th March 2019. You can find pictures from the event in the Gallery.
