Hungarian Heritage Review, 1988 (17. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1988-01-01 / 1. szám
3Hungarian-QIanabiait |)rnfilrs Rica asked him to act as an adviser. He remarks matter of factly: I am learning Spanish to make possible a more close communication with the people I have to work with. His prints sell well in the hundreds of thousands. In spite of his constant work it is hard to see any finished work in his studio, because it is sold as soon as it is finished. To exhibit his work he has to borrow them back from the galleries and private owners. Among his successes is the commission to paint the two pictures that were presented to Pope John Paul at the time of his Holiness’ Canadian visit. The Smithsonian Institute ordered a complete series of Indian portraits and genre pictures. Mr. Kocsis’ works and advice are often utilized by the National Film Board and he lectures often and teaches classes about the Indian past. At the present there is a book in the making about the same subject. As I read the English language publications about Kocsis it gives me a warm feeling to note that his being a Hungarian is emphasized everywhere. His peers respect him without reservation. While I am reading about him I have to ask myself: “How is it possible that works and achievement like his is largely unknown among his own people?” He is a scientist, an artist about whom no Hungarian publication has ever printed anything. Would it be an exaggeration to regard him as the “László Gyula’’ of the Hungarian emigration. When I asked Mr. Kocsis how he has time for so many things while being a full time artistic director of a company, he confessed: “Generally I sleep five (5) hours a day; I spend a little time with my orchids. If a little time is left over I use it to carve Indian ritual masks for my own pleasure.” Today I know who Ivan Kocsis is: a Hungarian scientist, artist and profoundly sensitive man. JANUARY 1988 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW 15 Indians of Southern Ontario in the Historic Pehod (1615-1650), including the Huron - Petun - Neutral and the Seneca Nations. Comctéfd anű <Jr»wn by I Kocán Drawing by IVAN KOCSIS Printed in Canada ^ Imprimé au Canada Drawing by IVAN KOCSIS Printed in Canada / Imprimé au Canada
