Artist Talk with Boglarka Nagy at the International Biennale of Contemporary Art from Central Europe

The young painter Boglarka Nagy is representing the new generation of painters, who are concentrated on figurative art. In July she visited the Transylvanian artist village Cisnadioara near Sibiu, where she is representing Hungary at the International Biennale “Danube Contemporary 22 – Shapes and Personality”.

In discussion with an audience of art connoisseurs from France, England, Greece, Switzerland, Germany and Romania, Nagy described her work as a permanent strive for excellence. “I am always interested to improve myself and my art, therefore my atelier is my shelter. I am happy with the way of getting better, not with the result.”

Nagy studied in Paris, Firenze and Cluj-Napoca. The “School of Cluj”, which is very much influenced by the “School of Leipzig” had a substantial impact on her style. So she uses classic compositions as “The Graces” that we find at Dürer, Rubens and Bernini, but put the models in contemporary swim-suits.

It is obvious that contemporary fashion is inspiring her work. With this Boglarka Nagy is more contemporary then most other artists from Central Europe, many of whom are still greatly influenced by their communist past. Nagy is describing the inequality of men and women as a matter of fact in families “My work is not political. My work is inspired from my daily life”. This makes her work to a chronicle of our time.

Dannube Contemporary Curator Thomas Emmerling selected for the Biennale some summer motives with “beach and swimming pool” sceneries, showing Boglarka Nagy’s talent in painting effects and expressions. “On the first glance it might look superficial, but our times are superficial. On social media everyone is looking like a millionaire but for example education and knowledge are declining.” explains Emmerling the importance of Nagy’s concept and approach. That this mirroring is figurative and requires a figurative report appears logic to the artist.

“Figurative painting allows me to grow and use my discipline. Discipline is very important for me.” Nagy says. And since Martin Schongauer and Albrecht Dürer we know, that figurative painting allows to describe mysterious sceneries with lot of freedom for individual interpretations. Nagy’s symbols are not very complicated and easy to understand, as the flight attendant who can not join the trip. The artist is observing and reporting us what is happening in our world.

Because of her studies at the art-academy in Cluj and because of her technical and artistic concept, Boglarka Nagy can be considered as a member of “The School of Cluj”, but the next generation. For sure it is worth to remember the name, as one of the most refreshing discoveries of the last decades.

Kunsthaus 7B in Cisnadioara, District Sibiu, Transylvania is a private space for contemporary and other arts from the Danube Area. It had been established 2017 by the German Art Collector and Dealer Thomas Emmerling. To learn more, visit: www.kunsthaus7b.art

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