A documentary celebrating the life and legacy of Hungarian-Slovak architect Ladislav Hudec, whose work shaped modern Shanghai, premiered in Bratislava this week. The Slovak-language version of L.E. HUDEC, produced by China Media Group, debuted at the Slovak National Gallery on Monday through a collaboration between Slovak cultural authorities and Chinese institutions.
Born in Banska Bystrica in 1893, Hudec fled Europe during World War I and arrived in Shanghai in 1918. Over the next 29 years, he designed over 100 buildings that blended Art Deco and modernist styles, including landmarks like the Park Hotel and the Grand Theater. The film traces his journey from wartime refugee to architectural pioneer during China's transformative Republican era.
The screening event underscores growing cultural ties between Slovakia and China, with organizers highlighting Hudec as a 'human bridge' connecting European heritage with Asian urbanization. Analysts note the timing coincides with renewed interest in historical figures who shaped cross-continental exchanges.
