We are interested to understand how artists felt, reacted, and behaved in the lock-down period and how they plan to restart. We will be posting interviews touching on some important topics. And if you have a question do not hesitate to ask, send us questions you are interested to get answered at info@hinsa.eu

You might have heard many times: …as we get back to normal life… No we won’t get back there. New tools, new ideas are required, to help to get closer to our goals. We don’t look back, as we don’t go that direction.

So, we asked our Artist, how they feel, what they think about the restart. We will share online interviews, as people reacted so differently and it is interesting to see that not only art is subjective, but life itself as well. On top help depended very much on the country you lived in, leaving artists form Eastern Europe again in a challenging position.

Our first partner is Attila Glázer, photographer, multi-artist and collaborator of HINSA.

HINSA: Is there any support what is still available for you as two years ago?

Attila:    There are a lot of absolutely specified scholarships, tenders, and calls but in this case, it is very hard to fit in thanks to the niche invited applications. General scholarships are not available. Thanks to the only one governmental opportunity (Nemzeti Kulturális Alap – National Cultural Found) there is a chance to get money for a specified goal, but the problem is: only a few artists can win interpretable money, and the financial framework is less by the order of magnitude.

H:           If not governmental sponsorship, then what? Where can you get any help what really works?

A:           Not indeed. Exhibiting in a library, taking part in a group exhibition, sponsored by myself, that kind of things. It is mostly good for amateurs and young artists under the age of 35 in general.

H:           If there is a gallery representing you, what did your gallerist mentioned? Is there any new strategy you are working together for surviving, rejuvenizing?

A:           Instead of an opening night, we are inviting individuals, potential buyers, collectors.

H:           What is the benefit of the pandemic for you mentally, physically, according to your art?

A:           I started to paint beside photography. The feeling “just because you can” dominated my life.

H:           Who helped you financially to get over this hard time?

A:           Nobody. My own savings was used for that.

H:           What was your biggest challenge?

A:           My son couldn’t get out for a while. That made me crazy sometimes.

H:           Was there a must to take a job offer, what was not imaginable before to earn money with?

A:          I have different jobs, with different companies. That helped me a lot. But some of my colleagues had to work as a food courier.

H:           If yes, what was your observation? What development did you experience?

A:           Finally had time for the things I always held over.

H:           What initiative or plan was killed by the pandemic? How do you restart your idea, or what do you start instead?

A:           I wanted to make my biggest ever exhibition. But I’m happy it was canceled by the know circumstances. Instead of spending a lot of money on it, new ideas came in place. I made a website for my books, I started to paint. I’m happier to do these things.

H:           If you had an exhibition or any kind of publishing, how did it work in the online world? What was any benefit of it? What was good experience of an online opening, a zoom meeting, or even a digitally materialized exhibition?

A:           Honestly, virtual openings, or another social event online doesn’t work for me at all. I was never taking part of any, and I do not even think there is any sense of doing it.

H:           How did your social media appearance change?  Old innervations, or big expansion on tools using in the digital world? Something in between?

A:           It is still hard and complicated for me. I think art needs to be touched, heard, watched in real life. Living in the virtual life is a pressure on me. It is simply not my way, but it is a must, so I do as much as I can.

H:           What is your post-covid plan? What will be the change in realization than the one before?

A:           More work, less dreaming, and planning. Take small ideas but make a great result of it.

H:           Did COVID slink into your art, or didn’t touched it at all? Was it a new impulse or there is no change in your way of working? If there is a change, let us know what. If no, tell us why the pandemic did not affect you art.

A:           Gave me time and space. But dos not really effected my mindset.

H:           If you fell like, there are any concepts, ideas you like to share with others, who were not enough prepared, don’t hesitate, you can do a lot for our community. Share all your thoughts about finding new opportunities. We will publish these so we can work together and against each other for a better life.

A:           Watching international opportunities instead of sticking to the Hungarian reality.

Less belly-button watching, more efficient work.

Stop blaming others for any kind of problem, more responsibility.

If you are good at social media, don’t hesitate to use it professionally. That’s the future on one side. Doesn’t matter if we like it or not.

Learn to speak in English, and Chinese!