As part of an extraordinary art project, visual artist Bogi Nagy built a bridge between the past and the present in 2025. On May 21, Albrecht Dürer's birthday, following a press conference, she set off from the Albrecht Dürer House in Nuremberg on her artistic pilgrimage along the Dürer Route—the historic route that Dürer once took to Venice.
Albrecht Dürer traveled to Venice twice in the early 16th century – first in 1494/95, then between 1505 and 1507. This historical dimension also inspired Bogi Nagy: she set off on her journey alone and arrived in Venice after walking more than 700 kilometers. Her pilgrimage was at once a physical challenge, a cultural reflection, and an artistic inspiration.
The Dürer Route leads from Bavaria through the Alps to Northern Italy. Bogi Nagy he embarked on the long journey alone to experience the landscapes, cities, encounters, and impressions firsthand, and then process them in his art.
"In Nuremberg, Dürer inspired me like a muse, in the Alps I touched the sky, and in Venice I found the soul of eternity," said the artist.
Upon her arrival in Venice, Bogi Nagy received a ceremonial welcome at the historic Ca’ Farsetti palace, where representatives of Venetian institutions and the Nuremberg delegation were also present. Among the participants were Simone Venturini, Deputy Mayor of Venice and Councilor for Tourism, Cornelia Trinkl, Councilor for the City of Nuremberg and Head of the Office for Education and Sport, and Simonetta Busulini, representative of Proloco Lido di Venezia e Pellestrina.
"The journey has deeply strengthened me and gifted me with countless incredible stories. I can hardly find the words to describe what I feel—so I will mostly be able to express my experiences through my art," said Bogi upon her arrival.
The „Dürer Route – an artistic pilgrimage from Nuremberg to Venice” project combines historical and cultural traditions with contemporary artistic practices. Albrecht Dürer's oeuvre serves as a starting point, which Nagy enriches with interdisciplinary, contemporary approaches: painting, drawing, photography, and sculpture intertwine in a multifaceted dialogue between the two cities.
The pilgrimage is one of the highlights of Nagy Bogi's artistic career, but it also marks the beginning of new horizons. Her plans include several international exhibitions, including one in Venice, as well as the publication of a comprehensive art book in 2026, which will feature the experiences and works she has collected along the way.
"This journey was a life-changing experience that deeply shaped and inspired me, and became rooted in my art. For me, Venice is not just a destination, but a place of resonance where everything I have experienced lives on and is condensed into my works," added Bogi.
Through this artistic pilgrimage, Bogi Nagy has built a bridge between the past and the present, between Nuremberg and Venice, between personal experience and universal art, leaving a lasting mark on the international art scene.
You may have read about Nagy Bogi before in “BORN IN SZFVÁR” in connection with his exhibition in Székesfehérvár, where he drew our attention to the emotionality of belonging and the spontaneity of artistic creation.
