H. Bathó Edit – Gecse Annabella – Horváth László – Kaposvári Gyöngyi szerk.: Tisicum - A Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok Megyei Múzeumok Évkönyve 16. (2007)
25 Years of the Artists' Colony of Mezőtúr
full-scale re-arrangement that followed the change of the régime, the new town council managed to continue the co-operation with the artists in the same spirits as their predecessors started it. They understood that the colony worked for the town and could only operate with their support. It is the merit of the local government that the location of the colony remained unchanged: in place of the Takács farm-house, which became ruined, they had a new complex of buildings constructed, which was completed by 1999 in the good old surroundings. Since the colony came to existence, one of its major objectives has been to provide Mezőtúr streets and public buildings with statues to pro ve the fruitful operation of the colony in exhibitions; and to enrich the artistic collection of the town with the mutually selected pieces. The advisory board of the foundation has registered more than 200 protected pieces of art up to date. Next to these, approximately 20 pieces have been placed in public areas. The fruit of these 25 years is characterised by the continuity of activities carried out at the colony, and the natural and coherent development focused on traditions. The objectives and directions set forth at the foundation of the colony do not change; it is only the content that broadens. The same applies to the technique and practise of bronzé casting, painting and graphic works, the permanent staff artists of the colony, their primary right to make decisions in artistic issues, the mutual relations between the artists and the town and the system of espousal. During the 25 years of the Mezőtúr Artists' Colony, nearly 80 artists have worked at the Takács farm-house, several of them from foreign countries. There have been elderly and acknowledged masters, and artists who have just started their career. The recurrent artists' works have alsó changed a great deal since they have influenced each other's activities, and the affection of the Mezőtúr bronzé workshop can be seen in their oeuvre. The collection of pieces of the town that is based upon pieces of art created at the colony reflects the artistic development of the two and a half decades as well as its cultural and artistic importance. The fact that a great number of nationwide known artists have graced the colony of Mezőtúr with their presence and given their names must not go unnoticed. They have contributed to the artistic outlines of the Mezőtúr colony with their peculiar stylistic features. Every artist is of independent character. However, through their figurality and spirituality, they match together in a conjugate unity. The characteristics of wax, its easy ductility, its sensibility and perfect plasticity, have enchanted nearly every artist. Several times they have sampled a bough, a plánt, or a leaf, or they have moulaged an existing object and cast them intő bronzé. The more serious compositions have been created using combined techniques: wood, wires and ropes. But in generál, the possibilities of bronzé casting have always dominated. There have been interactions in all respects. Painters have been influenced by the magic of was moulding, and sculptures have borrowed from the tools of painters when creating the oxidant surface of the bronzé statues. The quarter of a century that's behind us has been a long period, and many of the artist have deceased: Lajos Papi, Csaba Rékassy, József Németh, Tibor Borbás, Ildikó Simsay, Iván Szabó, Lajos Talamasz, László Meggyes, and most recently Erika Ligeti. Their works have consummated and enriched the profilé of the Mezőtúr Artists' Colony. 412
