The Culture-Creating Soldier, 2026
Large-scale interactive experiences combining historical storytelling, cartography and animated portraiture.
The Culture-Creating Soldier is a group of interactive museum installations developed for Eszterházy Castle, presenting the life and legacy of Prince Miklós Esterházy within the wider political and cultural landscape of Eighteenth Century Europe. Combining interactive cartography, storytelling and audiovisual elements, the exhibition transforms historical documents and artworks into engaging digital encounters.
Interactive Strategic Map
An 86-inch interactive touchscreen table forms the centrepiece of the exhibition, presenting the events of the Seven Years’ War through a dynamic animated map. Visitors can freely explore the conflict from multiple perspectives, following military campaigns, territorial changes and political alliances between 1756 and 1763.
The installation reveals how local battles were connected to a truly global conflict, allowing visitors to navigate between three complementary views:
- Europe, presenting the shifting balance of power across the continent.
- The Contemporary World, highlighting overseas colonies, naval operations and the global geopolitical landscape.
- The Battle of Kolín, offering a detailed reconstruction of one of the defining military engagements of the war, where Esterházy played an outstanding role in the victory.
Animated timelines, strategic movements and historical visualizations transform complex geopolitical events into an intuitive and engaging interactive experience.
Animated Portrait of Prince Miklós Esterházy
A large-scale animated portrait presents Prince Miklós “the Magnificent” Esterházy as a speaking presence within the exhibition. Framed as a living painting, it uses subtle animation and narration to introduce visitors to his life and legacy.
Based on historical sources, the piece offers a brief introduction rather than a detailed biographical reconstruction.
Political Billiards
A sound installation accompanies the famous 1758 satirical engraving Political Billiards Game in Germany. Hidden speakers create a talking-heads style exchange between the figures in the image, giving voice to the rival powers gathered around the billiard table.
The work focuses on the engraving’s political satire and the competing interests of the major participants in the Seven Years’ War.
credits
Design & Code: Gáspár Hajdu, Sámuel Setényi, Melinda Sipos
Art Direction & Illustrations: Eszter Kiskovács
Seven Years' War Animations, Battle of Kolín: Piros Animation
Esterházy Portrait Animation: GAT Film
Electronics Support: József Balázs