Bodonyi Emőke (szerk.): Szentendre vonzásában. Kortárs iparművészek a Szentendrei Képtárban. Szekko III. (Szentendre, 2011)
gallery is going to be filled with the works of sculptors. The present exhibition is not about the latest artistic endeavours of artists living in Pest county as a whole. It is rather focusing on applied arts in an intellectually homogeneous area consisting of Szentendre and its neighbouring settlements - Pomáz, Csobánka, Pilisborosjenő, Leányfalu, Tahitótfalu. As a result, several artists have been invited who are not very well-known in their homeland, but they are acclaimed in their profession, even at international level. Belonging to Szentendre does not necessarily mean that the artists live here, have relatives here (e.g.: parent-children relationship or artist couples), but it can also refer to the master-pupil relationship or to the fact that the artists create as members of a community. In this sense, even artists living in distant settlements can belong to Szentendre. At the exhibition twenty-one years ago, we were amazed at the changes and their effects which had occurred in various fields of applied arts. A gradual progress can be observed: since the 1960s-70s, instead of functional objects, the artists have been creating textile pictures, textile plastic works, ceramic and glass works of autonomous value which are in a very different, changed relationship with time (as the value of the working process rises) and space regarding quality, and in some cases hide thoughts of philosophical depth. In all branches of applied arts, it has become common to search for new techniques, forms of expression, and pose questions related to plastic art. Experimenting with materials and forms has led to novel solutions, or the discovery of already forgotten techniques. At the same time, the consistent use of traditional techniques helped to preserve classical values as well. The present exhibition features several examples for different techniques, and the most various forms of expression. The majority of the exhibits are textile and ceramic works, but the applied materials also include various metals, wood, glass and Plexiglass, and sometimes even the personal relics of the artist. Besides suggesting tangibility and attraction to object design, graphic and visual expression is becoming more and more important to several artists. Some plastic works and paintings created at the same time enhance each other harmoniously. The other way around is also true: designing objects can be a challenge for a painter as well. There are strikingly few functional objects at the present exhibition. Although they are sorely needed, artists can rarely find proper industrial background to make them. Fortunately, the artists belonging mainly to the younger generation feel the necessity of designing nice functional objects again. Craftsmanship is only an instrument by means of which the dreamed forms can be realized, whereas professional knowledge and perfectionism are basic requirements. Therefore the functional but unique pieces are exclusive works at the same time. Several participants of the 1990 exhibition have dropped out. One of the reasons for this is the disappearance of the industrial background in the area, the closure of the Flax Weaving Mill in Budakalász. The textile designers who were employed there have found work elsewhere. On the other hand, some artists started to work in another field, and turned to painting or sculpture instead of applied arts. Almost all invited artists - according to the invitation - present their latest works, or some works summarizing the last two years of their careers. We have also organized a chamber exhibition to commemorate ceramist Attila Nemoda, who died under tragic circumstances. We hereby would like to thank all the exhibiting artists for helping the organization of the exhibition and the publishing of the catalogue not only with their participation and works, but also with their personal confessions interpreting their own art. Emőke Bodonyi 5
