ARTIST STATEMENT
My artistic expression has been influenced by location, circumstances, relationships, political environments, spiritual practices, literature, personal development, travels, etc. I was trained as a graphic designer/illustrator and have been involved in many different projects as a designer and practiced as a fine artist. Throughout my career I was balancing these two disciplines.
A fine artist requires a different sense of self than a designer and requires a different process. A different sense of freedom and a different ethical approach.
I always had reservations about my my fine art activity as an Ego Trip, a narcissistic idea of personal self-realization. The case in point my performance piece “Public Punishment” whereas I directed the art gallery owner to beat me up with a baton for my sin of creating that performance.
Art is Dharma.
BIOGRAPHY
I was born in 1952, Budapest, Hungary.
My artistic talent was discovered at early age so I didn't have other choice than to become an artist. I had a talent for drawing which is a blessing but also some ways a hindrance. At age fourteen I was drawing nude models in school and continued doing so until I graduated from college.
I have attended the rigorous and academic Secondary School of Visual Arts in Budapest, from age 14 to 18, between 1967 and 1971. Subjects of general theoretical and practical visual training, with knowledge of art history, geometry, ethnography, typography – and the aforementioned model drawing.
After graduation continued at the Hungarian University of Applied Arts, where I graduated again with M.F.A. in Graphic Design in 1976.
Already during the college years I have participated and lead in artistic endeavors, making films, land-art happenings, performances and exhibits. Also made a living by designing record covers, movie posters, and also comic strips for magazines.
In this period, to get away from my own drawing abilities – which I plenty utilized in my commercial work, – I used mostly photographs. The contemporary concept art and pop art had influenced my art at that time.
In 1984 I left Hungary and immigrated to the United States.
In New York, doing commercial advertising type graphic design or becoming an illustrator didn’t fit me, but I stumbled upon animation design which became eventually my profession. Moved to Los Angeles in 1993 and worked as an art director, producer and designer in the animation industry until 2005. I have garnered an Emmy nomination and a Pulcinella Award for my work in animation.
During this time I was doing art in my spare time. My art become more fluid and abstract with influence of oriental calligraphy. I found the accidents of paint, like the accidents of life inspirational. Mostly worked on paper with ink but also in this period I have created several boxes with found objects. My artistic activities were meditative - and recreational – I didn’t have many exhibits during this time.
In 2011 I moved back to Hungary and live in Balatonszemes by the lake.