Exhibition · 2018

The World of Woman

7 September 2018 · Stefánia Palace, Budapest

In my own words

Why do we expect the same person to fit the same ideal at twenty, forty and seventy?

Nine different transitions in women’s lives — including puberty, motherhood, menopause and ageing — open a conversation about experiences often left outside idealised images. Miklós Vámos wrote alongside the pictures, and somewhere along the way it became a book and an exhibition at once.

Halfway through I realised nine models can never speak for everyone, so we opened it up: anyone could send in her own story, and many did. I stopped being the author and became something closer to a host. For the shoots I deliberately used a tiny camera instead of a big black machine — a small camera doesn't hide your face, and you can keep eye contact. Physical closeness turns into emotional closeness. That is the whole technique, really.

Gallery

Works from the exhibition

Three women laugh together in a warm studio portrait, one wearing a black necklace.
Black-and-white portrait of a woman in mirrored aviator sunglasses reflecting city rooftops, hand resting under her chin.
A woman leans toward the camera in a black bikini top, long hair falling over her shoulders.
Close-up of a woman with red silk flowers at her shoulder, looking down in warm low light.
Black-and-white portrait of a smiling woman among ivy leaves, holding sunglasses in one hand.
A woman in a backless pale dress glances back over her shoulder inside a lit elevator, an overnight bag in hand.
Black-and-white photograph of a woman in a cap sitting on a sofa, lacing up her boots.
Black-and-white photograph of two women sitting with knees drawn up, arms crossed over their legs, smiling at each other.
A woman sits on a white sofa beside a large teddy bear, ankles crossed, smiling at the camera.
A woman looks down at a cemetery headstone with a photo medallion, in low autumn sunlight.
A woman in a full ruffled skirt and knee-high boots walks along an autumn street lined with parked cars.
A muscular woman in gym wear holds a cable-machine rope, looking over her shoulder mid-workout.
Black-and-white close-up of a woman resting her cheek against her own shoulder, eyes closed.
A woman in a fruit-print swimsuit and ripped jeans sits smiling with legs drawn up, shot from below.
Black-and-white portrait of a woman in black lace lingerie, partly framed by dark shapes in the foreground.
A woman in gym wear balances in a standing split on top of a decommissioned military tank.
A woman and a man embrace closely, eyes closed, his hand resting on her cheek, her braid visible.
A woman on a gym bench holds a weighted barbell mid-lift, a spotter's hands guiding the bar.
Black-and-white photograph of three women sharing a meal at a table, an older woman, a laughing younger woman, and a third woman reaching across.
A woman in a navy halter dress sits smiling on a velvet armchair, hands clasped over her knee.
A woman in a pink running jacket and cap stretches her leg on an outdoor path lined with autumn leaves.
A woman bends down to touch noses with a German shepherd dog outdoors, a stone wall behind them.
A woman is seen through a rain-streaked window, smiling and holding a mug of tea.
Black-and-white photograph of a woman in a blazer and pale skirt, caught mid-jump while adjusting her boot, a handbag on her arm.
A woman lies on a bed with a laptop and earphones, a plush dog toy beside her, another person's feet visible in the foreground.
A woman smiles while reaching for a plate of open sandwiches and boiled eggs on a kitchen counter.
Close-up of a woman sleeping peacefully against a plaid pillow, sunlight behind her, a man resting beside her.
A man smiles at the camera while holding a swaddled newborn baby in a hospital room.
Close-up of a pregnant woman's bare torso, one hand resting over her chest, wearing a beaded necklace in dramatic low light.
Silhouette of a nude pregnant woman standing with hands on her hips in dramatic low light.
Close-up profile of a pregnant belly, a hand resting against it, the woman wearing black ruffled lingerie.
A pregnant woman in white lingerie ties a pale blue ribbon bow around her belly, smiling at the camera.
Silhouette of a pregnant woman in black lingerie and heels, leaning back over a tall stool.
A pregnant woman in a blue dress paints a cloud on a nursery wall mural featuring sailboats and a dolphin.
A newborn baby rests against its mother's cheek moments after birth, the smiling mother wearing glasses, medical staff visible behind them.
A woman video-calls a man on her smartphone, warm light filtering through a curtain beside her.
A woman stands with her back to the camera outdoors, old family photographs tucked into her jeans pocket.
A woman in a black lace dress and heels stands on a paved street, backlit by low evening sun.
Silhouette of a woman seen from behind in a bathroom, holding up a hand mirror to check her reflection.
Close-up of a toddler's hand resting on an adult's open palm outdoors, a wedding ring visible on the adult's finger.
Close-up portrait of a smiling dark-haired woman holding up the collar of her cream coat outdoors.
A woman in black lingerie and heels stands facing a bright window, seen from behind with her hands at her back.
A woman in a red blazer talks on the phone in a kitchen while a husky dog looks up at her, one shoe dangling from her foot.
A mother smiles nose-to-nose with her toddler, who wears a pink Minnie Mouse hooded jacket, outdoors.
Black-and-white photograph of a smiling woman reaching back to hold someone's hand on a city street.
A woman holds up a mug printed with a family photo, smiling at the camera outdoors.
A woman in a flowing black dress walks barefoot across a studio floor, glancing over her shoulder.
Close-up of a woman's bare shoulder and neck with a small tattoo, lit by warm side light.
Silhouette of a nude woman crouching low with her head bowed, one arm reaching down to her ankle.
A woman is seen through a reflective café window, smiling sideways at the camera with old buildings reflected around her.
A woman in a butterfly-print dress and glittery platform heels walks, looking over her shoulder.
A woman in a checked shirt and red rain boots sits on a stone wall beside a wicker basket full of vegetables.
A smiling woman with her eyes closed hugs a large tree trunk in an autumn forest.
An older couple, seen from behind, walk hand in hand down a city street.
A multi-generational family sits around a table playing cards together under warm lamplight.
A woman in a black-and-white striped dress and heels poses in a living room, holding a small clutch bag.
A woman holds a Tibetan singing bowl and mallet over another woman lying down with two more bowls resting on her chest, during a sound therapy session.
A woman kneels behind a person lying down, her hands positioned near their forehead during a healing session.
Portrait of a smiling woman in a coral crochet top, lit by warm indoor light.
A woman looks into a full-length mirror while adjusting her hair, wearing a lace top, a red rose beside the mirror.
A smiling woman in a floral apron dress holds an open book and a fan of kitchen tools, a tablet propped up nearby.
Two smiling women embrace in a hallway, one wearing coral lace, the other a pink tank top.
Black-and-white photograph of an older couple standing close together on a balcony, smiling as they look out.
A woman in a red-and-black striped dress stands smiling beside a television screen displaying a large family photo.
A smiling woman in a satin green gown sits by a fireplace, holding a glass of red wine.
A confident woman in a gym holds up a green dumbbell toward the camera, smiling.
A grandmother and her granddaughter share a chocolate treat, smiling closely together indoors.
Close-up portrait of a smiling older woman wearing a red plaid dress.
A woman looks into a curved mirror while putting on an earring, smiling, wearing a black sequined top.
A woman kneels in a garden planting flowers at sunset, smiling at the camera.
Three generations play on a garden swing set, a toddler lifted between two smiling women in matching denim overalls.
An older couple embraces cheek to cheek, smiling, in a kitchen set for dinner.
An older woman rolls dough on a wooden board while three younger women laugh together at the table behind her.
An elderly woman adjusts her sunglasses, wearing a corsage and pearl necklace, seen through a window.
An elderly woman stands smiling in a doorway, holding a patterned tote bag and a black handbag.
An elderly man smiles at the camera while helping an elderly woman put on her jacket.
Close-up portrait of an elderly woman smiling gently in warm indoor light.
An elderly woman holds up a hand mirror, checking her reflection while dressed in cream satin.
An elderly woman writes notes at a table while looking at a mobile phone, an open catalogue in front of her.
An elderly woman playfully combs an elderly man's hair, both smiling.
An elderly man kisses an elderly woman on the forehead as they sit together with a photo album on a red sofa.

© Norbert Bánhalmi / BANHALMI. All rights reserved. Images from the BANHALMI archive, 1999–2026.

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Women’s stories connected to the exhibition and book

Continue through the personal stories, portraits and turning points that form the wider context of The World of Woman. Read Women’s Stories on the BANHALMI blog.

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How it connects to the wider work

Nine different transitions in women’s lives — including puberty, motherhood, menopause and ageing — open a conversation about experiences often left outside idealised images.

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III2017–2018The body as memory, illness and recovery

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Presence-research period · III

The body, identity and turning points

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Archive overviewThe body, identity and turning points Press and moving imageThe World of Woman Curatorial dossierResearch context BooksThe World of Woman

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