CONTEMPORARY HUNGARIAN

ART WORLD

BASED ON AN INTERVIEW WITH

PAINTER FEKETE JÓZSEF

AND

CURATOR CSEH BORBÁLA

BY

BOGNÁR ALEXANDRA
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CONTEMPORARY  ART  
 
It   is   not   easy   to   describe   what   contemporary   art   means   in   the   21   century   where   it   is  
absolutely   impossible   to   create   something   new   or   innovative.   In   this   era   you   can   find  
only   the   mixtures   of   all   kinds   of   movements   and   styles.   Art   works   in   the   form   of  
„renovation”   which   means   that   the   artists   travel   back   in   time   and   art   history,   choose  
something  and  put  themselves  into  a  new  piece  of  art  using  the  previously  created  ones.  
In   our   completely   mixed   and   blurred   world   who   can   decide   what   is   art   and   what   is   not?  
Since  no  one  is  able  to  give  an  exact  definition  it  is  easier  to  say  that  everything  is  art.  
Moreover,  it  also  became  a  fact  that  everyone  can  be  a  painter  by  giving  it  a  try  with  a  
brush.   Every   aspect   and   movement   of   art   is   needed   in   order   to   highlight   the   better   ones  
and   to   make   it   possible   to   compare   them.   Just   like   a   child   when   touches   a   hot   pan   he  
learns  that  it  hurts  and  will  not  do  it  again.  The  same  thing  happens  with  an  artist  until  
he  finds  his  true  himself.  Picasso's  early  works  resembled  Rembrandt  but  at  his  earliest  
convenience,  he  started  to  paint  what  he  wanted  to.  
 
On  the  other  hand  contemporary  art  and  art  itself  is  a  good  business.  An  artist  can  make  
unimaginably   huge   amount   of   money   if   he   really   knows   what   the   consumer   society  
needs.   But   is   money-­‐making   the   real   aim   of   contemporary   artists?   And   how  
contemporary  art  works  exactly?    
 
FISE   (Fiatal   Iparművészek   Stúdiója   Egyesület)   was   established   27   years   ago   by   senior  
students   in   order   to   help   beginner   artists   to   start   their   carreers.   At   that   time   finding   out  
and   accomplish   such   a   “civil”   union   was   a   revolutionary   idea   and   act.   They   have   great  
stories   around   the   difficulties   of   the   establishment   –   just   a   little   Hungarian   absurd.  
When  asking  the  curator  of  FISE  about  their  work  nowadays  she  simply  replied:  it  is  still  
the   same.   They   organize   exhibitions   both   in   Hungary   and   in   foreign   countries   for   the  
beginners,   arrange   media,   make   relations   available   to   them,   publicate   applications   etc.  
In   short:   they   work   as   interest   representations.   Being   a   member   of   FISE   is   nearly   an  
inevitable  factor  in  becoming  an  artist.  And  FISE  has  become  a  highly  acknowledged  and  
accepted   NGO.   She   highlighted   this   fact   because   she   thinks   this   is   the   proof   of   their  
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“living”.   There   were   harsh   times   and   there   might   be   more   in   the   future.   They  
participated  only  in  public  applications  and  asked  for  support  for  exact  projects.  “We  are  
working   without   any   payed   employee,   everything   is   done   by   the   members”.   They  
learned   how   to   communicate   well   via   phone,   e-­‐mail,   they   keep   their   promises   so   that  
they   can   work   together   quickly   and   efficiently.   Politics   is   what   they   avoid   from   a  
distance.  “This  point  of  view  and  our  close  connection  saved  us  during  the  storm  around  
the  change  in  the  political  system.”  Their  inner  communication  and  passion  worked  hard  
to  get  proper  respect  in  this  profession.  Asking  her  if  there  are  more  organizations  like  
FISE   she   replied   that   there   is   no   need   to   split   applied   art   and   fine   art.   There   is   the  
governmental   institutional   structure   (museums,   scholarships   like   Kozma,   Moholy,  
Derkovits,   prizes   like   Ferenczy,   Munkácsy,   workshops,   Lectorators   that   deal   with   art  
critique   and   departments   of   ministries   such   as   NKA).   There   are   institutions   supported  
by   the   government   (MAOE,   the   fellowship   of   Applied   and   Fine   art),   there   are   trade  
unions,   independent   organisations   like   FISE,   FKSE   and   MAFEST   which   can   apply   to  
support  for  establishment  to  ministries  but  basicly  they  are  NGOs.    
 
There  are  several  different  groups  of  artist  which  exist  as  profit-­‐maker  companies.  But,  
obviously  the  unique  artists  are  the  most  important  ones:  this  quite  rich  and  colourful  
institution   serves   them,   made   for   them   and   partly   made   by   them.   Is   everything   nice   and  
happy?   No,   it   is   rather   ridiculous   or   moreover   absurd   just   like   the   historical   tradition.  
The   organization   of   the   Hungarian   art   world   fights   against   the   same   problems   as   the  
whole  country.  This  is  the  other  side  of  art.  But,  fascinated  pieces  of  art  are  born.  Every  
aspect  of  art  can  express  itself  and  more  and  more  private  investments  are  done  in  this  
line.  Life  is  not  at  all  easy  that  is  for  sure.  “Whining  should  be  stopped  (no  money,  it  is  
impossible...)  and  look  at  the  positive  effects  in  design  just  like  me  –  that  our  artists  can  
get  again  into  the  forefront  of  the  world.”  There  are  ways,  methods  and  there  is  a  very  
good  Hungarian  contemporary  visual  art.    
 
Her  particular  job  is  to  organize  yearly  12-­‐16  exhibitions  in  Kálmán  Imre  street  in  the  V.  
District.  They  also  have  5-­‐9  bigger  international  “shows”  all  around  Europe.  They  usually  
hold   about   10   more   exhibitions   in   various   places   within   Hungary.   They   also   have   3-­‐5  
foreign   invited   art   groups   a   year.   Besides   these,   they   deal   with   art   management   and  
community   building.   They   enlarged   the   gallery,   now   it   has   3   workshops   which   also  
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means   that   the   presence   of   artists   is   constant.   From   spring   they   are   going   to   start  
working   on   the   FISE-­‐nights   series   which   will   offer   interesting   lectures   for   the   general  
public  as  well  as  the  experts  on  the  subject  and  all  for  the  social  objectives.  “How  do  you  
earn  money?  “  Those  who  worked  on  the  projects  will  get  money  for  it  and  there  are  for-­‐
profit   programmes   for   which   sponsors   pay.   They   calculate   their   spendings   in   details.  
The  experiences  show  that  if  they  can  not  afford  a  professional  team  than  it  is  better  not  
to   try   it.   On   the   other   hand,   the   artists   also   get   used   to   and   learn   how   project   organizing  
works  from  the  financial  point.  And  finally  it  is  good  in  this  form  because  that  is  their  job.  
(interview  with  Cseh  Borbála)  
 
But   how   contemporary   art   looks   like?   Fekete   József   prefers   painting   somewhat   that   can  
be  called  „good”.  Standing  in  front  of  a  canvas  and  do  nothing  more  than  the  splatter  of  
some  colours  onto  it  can  never  fit  into  the  expression  “good”.  He  thinks  that  an  artwork  
is  valuable  if  it  is  a  painting  that  you  happily  put  onto  your  wall.  When  designing  home  a  
possible  decoration  reflects  positive  things  and  even  if  he  is  very  famous  and  his  works  
are   quite   expensive   he   would   never   put   an   Egon   Schiele   painting   onto   his   wall.  
(interview  with  Fekete  József)  
 
Fekete   József   is   known   for   highlighting   the   colours   and   not   the   shapes.   His   style   can  
slightly  remind  the  impressionism  so  that  in  case  of  categorisation  he  can  be  “put  into”  
neo-­‐impressionism   or   expressionism.   His   works   are   not   complicated,   figurative   nor  
abstract  which  means  that  they  can  be  easily  “digested”  and  that  is  the  first  reason  why  
he  can  get  positive  feedbacks.  
 
An   artist   always   suffers   from   doubt,   if   that   he   is   doing   is   good   or   not   and   needs  
feedbacks  to  help  him  in  deciding  the  continuation.  Van  Gogh  could  only  sell  1  painting  
throughout  his  life  and  this  could  cause  his  madness  which  resulted  in  cutting  his  own  
ear  and  finally  he  committed  suicide.  It  is  always  an  inner  urge  that  answers  “yes”.  József  
never   thinks   it   over   consciously,   painting   is   just   like   breath   taking:   you   do   it   without  
really  knowing  it.  (interview  with  Fekete  József)    
 
 
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After   finishing   some   art   and   drawing   schools   Fekete   József   started   with   abstract  
paintings   and   he   finally   stopped   at   reality.   He   is   kind   of   painter   who   is   interested   in  
many   things   and   tried   all   of   them   including   still   life,   landscape   or   nude.   All   of   his  
paintings  are  based  on  reality  not  on  imaginations.  He  –  as  the  impressionist  painters  –  
prefers   being   in   the   nature   and   make   his   paintings   on   one   sitting.   That   is   why   his  
paintings  are  not  detailed,  there  are  some  which  were  made  within  2  minutes.  He  deeply  
believes  that  a  good  painting  can  be  created  quickly  because  if  you  have  it  in  your  mind  
then  it  is  not  your  hand  that  controls  the  brush,  painting  is  not  a  physical  activity  at  all.  
He   plays   with   light   and   colours   even   though   he   chooses   the   colours   instinctively.   “The  
best   is   what   occurs   randomly”,   nothing   created   “artificially”   can   be   better   than   the  
unconscious  mind.  If  you  don't  have  an  idea  just  do  not  force  it  –  he  suggests,  because  
the  result  will  definitely  be  horrible.  József  proudly  confessed  that  out  of  100  paintings,  
90  are  awful...  so  he  likes  only  10%  of  his  own  works.  (interview  with  Fekete  József)  
 
“There  is  no  instruction  for  what  makes  a  painting  good.”  It  might  be  that  the  details  are  
nicely   done   but   the   whole   does   not   tell   anything.   József   never   focuses   on   the   details   –  
just   like   the   real   impressionists   he   sees   the   whole   painting   and   do   not   care   about  
anything   else.   He   personally   was   never   interested   in   the   technic   nor   the   style   of   a  
painting  but  the  message  it  had  and  what  was  beyond  the  painting.  There  are  artworks  
that  should  not  be  raised  to  academic  levels  because  such  explanations  always  give  false  
pieces  of  information.  There  are  things  that  can  not  be  explained  and  there  is  no  need  for  
it!  The  great  things  are  simple.    
 
“It  is  not  a  good  tactic  if  a  painter  paints  for  just  himself.”  It  is  for  the  public  as  well  and  
its  task  is  to  have  an  effect.  Any  kind  of  effect  shows  that  the  artwork  has  power  but  still  
József   tries   to   gain   only   positive   ones   –   that   is   what   our   society   and   today's   art-­‐world  
need.   He   reaches   this   “positiveness”   with   colour   and   light   technics.   (interview   with  
Fekete  József)  
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“A  fényfestő”  
 
The   painting   in   other   words   can   be   called   his   ars   poetica   because   this   represents   his  
aim:  the  man  (him)  paints  the  flame  of  a  candle  which  gives  light.  The  painting  has  its  
surrealistic  effect  motivated  by  thoughts  from  the  Enlightment.    
 
He  considers  a  good  painter  someone  who  is  able  to  be  different.  When  entering  into  a  
gallery  he  usually  goes  through  all  the  paintings  with  his  eyes  in  10  seconds  and  if  they  
look  like  the  same  than  it  does  not  worth  to  watch  the  exhibition.  “I  can  only  regret  those  
who   paint   the   same.”   It   means   according   to   his   interpretation   that   the   painting   was  
made   with   no   joy.   By   painting   differently   the   artist   does   his   own   job   –   expresses.   It   is  
absolutely   normal   that   one   day   he   feels   “this”   and   “that”   on   the   next   day.   And   what   does  
he  paint?  The  subjects  are  different,  when  he  was  in  love  with  his  exgirlfriend,  he  was  
motivated  to  paint  some  nudes  about  her.  When  he  was  on  a  holiday  and  saw  an  arab  
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man   waterpiping   he   decided   to   paint   him.   There   is   nothing   extraordinary   with   the  
colours   used,   he   painted   them   instinctively   telling   simple   evidences   like   the   red  
background   which   stands   for   “hot”   showing   that   the   temperature   is   around   45-­‐50   oC.  
(interview  with  Fekete  József)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Talent   and   hard-­‐working   fructifies   one   day.   It   is   kind   of   a   naiv   belief   but   an   artist   can  
never  become  famous  if  he  personally  knocks  on  the  doors  of  galleries.  It  is  true  that  the  
investigated   energy   and   happiness   always   reach   the   public.   Success   came   into   József's  
life,  he  thinks  that  after  more  than  40  exhibition  done  he  is  now  recognized.  And  this  is  
the  point  where  he  decided  that  painting  is  the  only  thing  he  wants  to  do.  This  was  also  
caused   by   a   painful   break-­‐up   with   his   girlfriend   after   which   a   few   months   of   depression  
started.   He   painted   nothing.   It   was   2-­‐3   weeks   ago   when   he   “came   back   into   real   life”  
realizing  that  painting  is  his  life.  And  also  that  unlike  most  artists  he  is  unable  to  paint  in  
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a  bad  mood.  (It  is  a  common  belief  that  most  artists  create  their  so  called  “masterpieces”  
when   they   are   high,   drunk   or   depressed.)   He   admitted   that   a   kind   of   harmony   is   needed  
because   the   paintings   are   the   mirrors   of   the   souls.   An   artist   gets   totally   naked   when  
exhibiting   his   works.   One   work   can   tell   everything   and   since   his   aim   is   to   give  
positiveness,  it  is  important  that  his  paintings  have  to  represent  the  same.  Chagall  said  
that  those  can  become  big  artists  who  have  big  souls.  This  can  be  translated  meaning  the  
same  what  József'  thinks.  (interview  with  Fekete  József)  
 
A  contemporary  artist  has  real  challenge  in  today's  society.  The  number  of  competitors  
are   uncountable   because   hundreds   and   thousands   of   schools   are   given   where   it   is  
possible   to   learn   how   to   draw,   how   to   paint,   how   to   make   sculptures   and   technics   are  
written  down  into  books.  But,  how  an  artist  uses  his  knowledge  and  what  he  creates  out  
of  it  is  where  art  begins.  It  is  not  our  task  to  decide  if  the  result  is  good  or  bad  since  we  
are   not   the   same   and   the   opinions   of   experts   differ.   The   question   is   rather   about  
marketing.  Garbage  can  not  be  sold  but  there  are  quite  a  lot  valuable  artworks  so  what  is  
their  destiny?  The  main  challenge  of  the  future  is  to  teach  marketing  orientation  to  the  
next  generation  of  artists.  The  good  “help  staff”  or  art  managers  are  needed  just  in  the  
way  how  “contract-­‐able”  (communicative,  open-­‐minded)  artists.  The  market  is  not  just  
about  buying  nice,  happy  and  colourful  paintings  but  also  about  the  values  of  artworks  
which   means   that   we   usually   buy   things   that   we   do   not   like   but   on   it,   there   is   the  
signature   of   a   famous   painter.   Those   who   are   not   making   but   dealing   with   art   have   to  
explore  the  market  segments  of  customers  and  sell  the  works  for  those  who  would  like  
to   buy   them.   Fekete   József   is   not   the   best   or   most   talented   artist   but   still   there   is   a   huge  
demand  for  his  works.    

 
   
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REFERENCES:  
 

Talk  with  Fekete  József,  comtemporary  painter  

Talk  with  Cseh  Borbála,  curator  of  FISE