Zsombor Barakonyi is an artist from Hungary. In his cityscapes he conveys images that are familiar to everyone around the world. Especially for Artocratia, we talked to Zsombor about how to create symbols that everyone understands, and about the state of Hungarian art and the art market today. You can see the artist's work on the Artocratia Market.
How did you become an artist? And when did you start?
It's very easy to answer because from the beginning, from my childhood, I always wanted to be an artist. I grew up in Hungary in the 80s. That was the time of Star Wars movies, comic books. I had so many friends who had relatives in the US, so they got those comics. Before I saw all the movies, I got comics that gave me the opportunity to dream. So I decided to recreate reality somehow. I started drawing everything and my teachers thought I was talented. Painting and drawing came naturally to me. Later, when I was 20 years old, I decided to enter the Academy of Fine Arts. I was sure that I wanted to become an artist. The 90s in Hungary were really exciting, we had our youth, we enjoyed freedom and happiness.
You have a special technique - acrylic on a poplar wood panel. Please tell me more about it.
This technique comes from the 80s, from the young years of skateboarding and street culture and art in Hungary. It's just an influence because I'm not a street artist, I prefer to work in a studio. The poplar wood comes from skateboards. Then I was a skateboarder. After my postgraduate studies I invented this special technique. I manipulate the photos by changing the colors and using street art techniques. I cut the flat wood panel, then I cover the panel and turn on the projector like in a movie. After this act I turn off the projector and I use several layers. My painting usually has 7-9 layers. I use a very traditional primer, a grisaille and Dutch technique. I change the oil painting to acrylic. This is a very international thing, you know - Russian wood, French primer and I am Hungarian.
Is there a connection between your artwork …
