06. June 2008.

At the August 20th Red Bull Air Race in Budapest Péter Besenyei will fly wearing a helmet featuring Herend motifs, it was announced at Red Bull Hungária's helmet painting competition.

Following the example set by Herend porcelain, the helmet painted with masterly skill will embark on its world-conquering tour as the race (as in previous years) will be aired in nearly 50 countries.

Background:

One month ago 10 enthusiastic artists sat down to come up with a new design for the two helmets used by Péter Besenyei. Actors, painters and employees of the Herend and Zsolnay Porcelain Manufactories answered the call and vied to win the chance to decorate helmets worn by the celebrated pilot.

Their effort also serves a good cause; organisers will offer all ten competition pieces for sale in an online auction to run between July 11 and August 11. Proceeds of the auction will be donated to a spine research fund called Wings for Life. (Bids can be made at: www.sisakaukcio.origo.hu)

Based on the decision of a panel of judges (where members of the staff of Red Bull Hungária, the bid caller, were represented by 20 percent, while Péter Besenyei and the representatives of the Hungarian Institute for Culture and Art were each represented by 40 percent) the first prize was awarded to László Tartó, artist of the Herend Porcelain Manufactory. The painter worked three weeks on the piece founded on bird-feather motifs symbolising flying.

László Tartó (29) has been working at the Manufactory since 1993. He regularly works on product development and the creation of new pieces, and represents the company at Hungarian and international exhibitions and events. Currently he is working on his master’s degree.