Inspired by legendary street photographers Hans van der Meer took off to Budapest in the fall of 1984 and stayed, with interruptions, for a year. Minor Mysteries provides insight into what fascinated Van der Meer as a young, curious outsider in a country that at first sight seemed alienating and distant, but where he quickly found his way. Without a preconceived plan, he let his intuition guide him, wandering the streets like a director collecting scenes for a script. This is how he stumbled upon wonderous, playful, at times tragicomic situations. In retrospect, the series is like a monument to an era in transition. An era that was nearing its end, in a city in the heart of Europe, that looked battered under the weight of history, but with hope for something new.