Veszprémi Nóra - Szücs György szerk.: Vajda Lajos (1908–1941) kiállítása (A Magyar Nemzeti Galéria kiadványai 2008/6)

Biography

Biography 1908 Born in Zalaegerszeg on 6 August. His father, Manó Emil Vajda, was a clerk at the county court, he later learned the furrier trade. His mother was Judit Fürst, and his elder siblings were: Miklós, Teréz, Márton. 1916 The family moves to Serbia, which at the time is occupied by Austrian troops. He attends a Serbian, later a German school in Belgrade; soon after, the family settles in Valjevo in western Serbia, 1917 He makes his first known drawings, 1922-1924 He studies at the drawing school of the Hungarian National Jewish Cultural Society. 1923 His parents and elder sister return to Hungary (the elder brothers remaining in Yugoslavia). They first move to Zalaegerszeg, then to Szentendre (4 Dumtsa Jenő út). For a while, he lives in the home of his uncle, the journalist Mihály Vajda, who supported his artistic aspirations, but later moves to an apprentice home. 1925-1926 He falls seriously ill, contracting tuberculosis of the bone. He is operated on twice. 1927 His mother dies. He spends the summer at his brother's home in Valjevo. In the autumn, he enrols at the Academy of Fine Arts, as a pupil of István Csók. 1928 He makes friends with Dezső Korniss, György Képes, Sándor Trauner, and Béla Hegedűs, students at the Academy. Together with his companions, he visits the programmes of Lajos Kassák's Munka (Work) Circle. This is the period of his first Constructivist experiments. During the summer, he goes to Belgrade, and exhibits his work at the so-called Pupil Exhibition of the Arts Hall; the fresh style of the exhibits aroused the criticism of conservative artist circles. 1929 At the behest of conservative-minded teachers at the Academy, the State Supervisory Committee conducts an investigation against the professors István Csók and János Vaszary: Vajda, Korniss, Kepes, and Trauner are expelled. Vajda participates in the poetry recitals and choir singing of the Munka Circle. Exhibits at the youth show of the KUT (New Society of Artists) at the National Salon. 1930 He exhibits together with New Progressive Artists at the Tamás Gallery. In the autumn, he travels to Paris.