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| Istvan Ocztos, President of the Kuratorium Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
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| This view from his flat has become Istvan's biggest project Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
Istvan Ocztos is a huge man, towering in stature and in soul, a giver not a taker.
An architect, artist and set designer whose reach extends across the globe as President of the Kuratorium, he is master of life's extensions in the arts, a collaborator extraordinaire.
I met him, as I do many artists, by accident on purpose, always seeking to connect.
About 100 meters from my hotel, the Hotel Queen Mary in the 7th District (Old Jewish Quarter) in Budapest, there's an upscale cafe, restaurant and gallery, Barladino.
I walked in a couple days after arriving in Hungary to find works by three international artists: from Hungary (Istvan Ocztos), France/USA (Suzanne Marie Lambert) and Norway (Randi Antonsen).
It's a professional space, and like many cafes in this central European capital, Barladino.
It serves as a center for art appreciation, a venue for Hungarian and international artists to showcase their works.
It serves as a center for art appreciation, a venue for Hungarian and international artists to showcase their works.
I left my card with Raymond, a very intelligent Romanian (whose father is Hungarian). I would like to meet with the artists, at least one of them, I told him. He speaks excellent English.
For 10 days I disappeared into the Budapest landscapes to reappear at the cafe/gallery when Norman was working.
A brief phone call by Raymond, and five minutes later, Istvan Ocztos walked in, tall and broad shouldered with large flashing eyes and generous face.
He spoke little English but understood more. It was a quiet time at the cafe. Norman translated.
It soon became clear that Istvan served as the cafe's consummate curator and later I learned, President of the Kuratorium, a global collaboration of artists.
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| The Kuratorium wants to reshape the faces of Budapest's 7th District. Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
As an artist, Istvan Ocztos draws with pen, ink and watercolor, charcoal, paints with acrylics on canvas and on paper, creates videos. He's totally self-taught.
The Kuratorium is more than a cafe.
Yes, his works and those of French/USA artist Suzanne Marie Lambert and Norwegian Randi Antonsen adorned the walls, complete with gallery lighting, professional.
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| Mystical figures from Istvan Ocztos' sketch book Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
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| Sketch book, Istvan Ocztos Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
He loves working with children, teaching art to children, creating art books for them.
After all, he told me, he was only a child of about seven years when he started to draw and paint and create and feel the artist's life swelling within him.
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| The wall tells all: Istvan Ocztos' flat, Budapest Photo by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
Istvan's Kuratorium is a great playpen for international artists to intereact with each other, collaborate and create.
Here's how the Kuratorium online works.
Istvan conceives a basic shape, drawing, or concept and puts it to paper and then posts it online as one of his "Games."
He calls it international, interactive, creative workshops on the Internet.
And in Game 2, 37 artists from 14 countries created 116 works answering one of his "visual suggestions."
The back and forth interplay and collaborations can be viewed online at www.istvanocztos.com. He's also on MySpace.
Istvan's Game 3 has started. You're not too late to jump in and play. He calls it: Living Firewalls Erzsebetvaros.
[To plug in to any of Istvan's games or other collaborations, go to: http://livingfirewalls.org. (You can also reach him at ocztos.istvan@gmail.com.)]
His most ambitious Kuratorium project invokes collaboration from international artists, architects and engineers to not only paint the exteriors of three dilapidated buldings in Budapest but to restore and make them habitable, each a work of living urban art.
How did it happen?
Istvan's view from his flat is dull and drab. It wore on him until he conceived this new mission for the Kuratorium.
He has worked on this for a couple of years and although perhaps improbable to finance during the current financial crisis, there is no turning back.
He is gaining traction not only with international artists but also with the 7th District's local government council, he says.
He says he's confident in the end, the project will succeed.
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| Istvan Ocztos, pen, ink & watercolor Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
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| Istvan Ocztos Skietch book Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
Istvan, after a short interview, invited me to his flat and studio only five minutes walk from the cafe, and here his life unfolded in visual layers.
He lives alone with his memories and his present and future exploits, his continual collaborations, which he calls his games.
He authors and self'publishes books for children, providing the art. Two are coloring books, another a hardback in Hungarian and English, and his latest, "I Love You" continues the adventures of his two iconic characters, Karelo and Marena.
Karelo and Marena are painted over photographs, which Istvan modifies with text, all playful, visually absorbing, poetry in motion.
In one of his hardback books for children, "Who is this? What is this?", he writes simple verse in Hungarian and English with his illustrations:
"Balloon here
"Tassel there
"Riddling rhymes
"Smiling nice" and,
"I'm the spotted
"Not the dotted
"Spotty lady
"As you see
"Flying over
"Every tree."
There are other verses and colorful, fanciful art in the book.
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| Istvan Ocztos Sketch Book Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
He loves working with children, teaching art to children.
After all, he told me, he was only a small child of about seven when he started to draw and paint and create and feel the artist's life swelling within him.
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| Istvan Ocztos Sketch Book Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
This is only one of his dimensions.
Istvan's Kuratorium is a great playpen for international artists to create fusion art.
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| Istvan Ocztos Sketch book Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
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| Istvan Ocztos Sketch Book Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
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| Istvan Octos' posted exhibition notices in his Budapest flat Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
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| Istvan Ocztos Sketch Book Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
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| Istvan Ocztos Skietch Book Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
Rock on and practice peace and love.
Stefan, the ArtTraveler ™
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"Miroma´s Majesty," photograph by Stefan van Drake (2008) |
Check out a sculpture or mosaics workshop or walking tour in our beautiful mountains. See: www.spanjeanders.nl andwww.competafinearts.com.
Contact me at stefanvandrake@gmail.com or by calling (34) 951 067 703; from the UK at BT landline rates, 0844 774 8349.
Bonjour Stefan, Istvan sent me the link to your blogpage. Very nice! I am an artist, painter & photographer. Istvan and I just had an exhibition together in Budapest. I am also part of his projects GAME2 and THe LivingFirewalls of Budapest. I will be traveling to Budapest in late October/early November after my time in France.
ReplyDeleteHere is my blogpage: www.suzannemarielambert.blogspot.com
All of my best, Suzanne