Dobrik István: Mokry Mészáros Dezső (Borsodi Kismonográfiák 18. Miskolc, 1985)

RESUME MOKRY MÉSZÁROS DEZSŐ (1881-1970) In the Hungarian history of art in addition to masters of epochal importance, several masters can be found, who did not create oeuvres producing schools, however their activity can be observed as a sparkling mosaic part in the whole of Hungarian fine art. Amongst them can be ranked the life-work of Mokry Mészáros Dezső, who was a man with turbulent and rich phantasy, who dreamt about other worlds by soaring of his imagination. His art fed deeply on insticts and world of childhood cannot even be conceived as naive definitly, though relationship can be traced between a part of his activity and that of the Hungarian peasant-artists. He was born in 1881 at Sajóecseg. His course of life endured through the two world-wars till 1970. This life full of doubtfulness, adventures, hardship and tribulation is the same uneven like the periodical changing of his artistic ventures. Mokry Mészáros Dezső was self-educated. His undertaking and accordingly his individual destiny can be well separated from other types of masters of his days. Enthusiasm for "discovery" of naive art entailed the recognation of his works within wider bounds. However a part of his works can be hardly classified definitly merely among the domain of naive art. His creative periods can be precisely segregated. Based on comprehensive experiences his individual artistical approach, symbolism of lively surrealist appearance comes near even to Grand Art. His activity has not been discussed yet with monographical claim. This small monograph is undertaking the brief review of his way of life, division his oeuvre into periods, weighted disclosure of his values. Attempt is made at giving a survey about the life and activity of this globe-trotting, exciting, constructive personality. Not the visible, but the imaginary reality gave the real inspiration to Mokry Mészáros Dezső, from autodidacts perhaps only Rousseau got as far as similar profoundness. For interpreting and solving everyday-conflicts he found an individual explanation, "naive philosophy" and thought and raved nearly on cosmic scale. According to his explanation the world should be* understood in deductive way and not inductive one. Above intuition in his art significant role was given also to consciousness, however instead of analysis of reality it was used merely for bringing out figurative idea, a vision produced by his phantasy. He was not affected by strokes of professional art of his age. He did not obey any other law but his own imagination. Fordeterminig his art various attributes can be used. Sometimes naive plainness, sometimes a quite complicated composition indicates the decorative appearance of his works. Sometimes narrative vocation, sometimes rather high symbolic imaginary style is characteristic of his art. Most of his works are marked by equal finish of details, polyphonic composition and the affectionate, heartfelt accuracy giving suggestive radiance, liveliness to them. 83