ISTVÁN HARMATH, sculptor
PLAYFULNESS Exhibition at the zsombrakART Gallery
April 23rd-July 23rd 2008

This exhibition gives us a look inside a happy, playful, and lovable world, where children don’t turn towards evil and the dark side. The goal isn’t formed by bad intentions.

On the other hand, we can be witnesses to a world to which any one of us would desire to live in, whether as a child or as an adult, it is worthy of jealousy. A world where happiness plays the main role. We get to look inside a lovable man’s, a father’s, but before everything else an artist’s daily life and thoughts. He opens up and shows us his inner struggles, ties to his family, desires, and also sometimes true to reality style of representation which fascinates the viewer.

Let’s dive into the world of playfulness, which István Harmath says is „a serious game, without compromises“. (1.14.2008)

In today’s busy and ever more stressful, worried world, it is refreshing to meet and talk with someone whose being is defined by inner balance, happiness, playfulness, the abundance of positive thoughts, and personality.

We’ve known each other for a few years, dating back to our university years. What’s changed in your life since then, work, family..?!

Well yes, they say that the only thing that is constant is change, - I married my wife Ica and she gave birth to our biggest and unrepeatable work of art, my son Bence. And since university I’ve also balded a bit, of course.

Do you still have the same passion, and amount of works as before? Or are there changes in your life? Career?

My passion for creating is the same as before. I’ve always been the same with this, that whilst I’m creating time stops for me, just as a child’s does whilse playing, and is still like this. Of course the end result looks easy in and of itself, but in reality the act of creation is not an easy one, as you know yourself – but of course there are times when things come spontaneously, but I think these also have their roots in something else. What has become very scarce is TIME, - but I’m working on spending more time doing my trade.

You live in a balanced, happy family atmosphere, and you also work as a teacher as far as I know?

Yes, I wouldn’t be able to make a living in my trade, as orders are like a dog’s dinner- sometimes you have them, sometimes you don’t- so I teach for now.

What’s the young generation like?

At first teaching was very difficult for me, but I eventually realized that I like children, which made my job easier. If a person gives, they will receive, but it’s like this everywhere – the young generation is constant or changing, and I think that the teaching field is a good one because of this.

What advice do you have for those contemplating going into an artistic field?

Well I would say if someone feels the pull of a particular artistic field, then they should NEVER give up, and then they will always make progress with perseverance – and to never forget about modesty, always ask questions, and after a time they will begine to discover themselves…

Would you be happy if your son Bence chose to follow an artistic fiels, like his parents?

Well, I don’t know which field he’ll choose, but I’d be happy if he could do what makes him happy, regardless of the field.

Let’s get back to you, to the past couple of years. If I’m not mistaken you’ve taken part in performances and exhibitions with your works?

Yes, I had the opportunity to bring together a couple of performances in Baja, on the banks of the Danube, but unfortunately in the past 2 years the program series which sponsored these events stopped, which I truly regret, as it was a good place to get started.

f I’m not mistaken, you’ve had a couple of good commissions, and beautiful works, which has also been put into public spaces?!

Well the most interesting one was the Saint George application, whose mock-up I made with toilet paper. It was a symbolic statute composition, whose contents represented dualism, good and bad, beautiful and ugly etc. to show the relationship between things. These things, two sides, complete each other, which I playfully poured into a cast – this rare world of shapes probably caught the fantasy of the architects, and to the surprise of many the statue was actually finished and placed in the main square of Sepsiszentgyörgy.

Of course I’ve also made portraits, plaques –for example I’ve minted 2 versions of Albert Wass. The interesting thing is that I never begin a project wondering who will buy it and for how much – I always look on the act of creating something as a challenge – I think to truly create you need a clean heart, good humor, and commitment-

To close, I have a common question which every successful artist is asked at the end of an interview:

What are your plans for the future? More commissions, plans, exhibitions?

In the future I’d like to actually realize my plans and ideas concerning certain works. I plan on creating a bust of John Paul, because he deserves one. Of course I’m always hopefully waiting for commissions (hope is the last to die). And also I’m trying to figure out how to manufacture Time. When I fin dout I’ll let you know.

Thank you for the opportunity. Regards: István Harmath

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