We are delighted to introduce the work of Sára Várady an artist from Hungary who travelled to London in the middle of the pandemic to chase her dream of being an artist. Várady is currently studying at the Royal College of Art.
I am gazing at my reflection in the mirror. I am leaning closer and closer to the mirror while I look into my own eyes and try to discover my being. I want to understand who I am. Desperately I want to find out what is hiding beyond my physical self, what identifies me, and what it looks like. I try to imagine it. It always thrills me. It creates the feeling that people have on a roller-coaster, as it suddenly starts down from the top of the wave. It scares me but excites me as a shiver runs through my body.
That is my first memory. My mother assumed that I had narcissistic tendencies and covered the mirrors. Since then, I have created art.
Self-taught or art school?
I have a BA in Fine Art from University of Dundee and currently, I am studying at the Royal College of Art on MA Print course. Despite all these, I consider myself self-taught, as school does not teach you how to create art, instead, it gives you facilities, materials, and opportunities to connect and try out different techniques.
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
Egon Schiele- Seated Woman with a Bent Knee. He has been a great influence on me since my childhood.
How would you describe your style?
Figurative, abstract-figurative, and surreal
Can you tell us about your artistic process?
As I create the work, I enter into a different dimension where I aim to express a collective accumulation of vibrations. To embody this energy, I employ a variety of media, including oil painting, watercolour, etching, and ceramics. Generally speaking, painting allows me spontaneity, as during the process I not only paint the subject but myself as well, as an object that I record. In this creative process, I let my instinct lead me. I do not break it down and try to understand it. I recognise Greenberg’s position, as I find the action of painting highly important, however, I give the same attention to the subject of my painting and the meaning behind it. On the other hand, etching gives me certain security, as I need to think ahead and create a plan for my layers. Also, I find it fascinating how I start with a perfect metal plate, then I destroy it as I create my marks, and transform it into something new. Ceramics enable me to shape figures and situations into three-dimensional spaces which gives my inner vision even more real. The diversity and the combination of these techniques ensure that my work expresses my vision of art as personal, spiritual, and universal.
Is narrative important within your work?
Narrative is very important in my work. I often have hidden stories behind my art which can come from literature or from my personal life.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
The followings are not in order:
Egon Schiele, because he was a true artist, who kept his art despite all the critiques. He rather went to prison because of his art than admit something that he did not feel right. Despite his courage, he has a special way of depicting the human figure that goes far beyond the physical.
Francis Bacon, because his imagery is exceptional and his painting process is truly inspirational. He thought of his practice as a serious game: playing with the paint but on the other hand, being very strict with himself too. I learned so much from his interviews.
Cristina Córdova, because she has a strong and unique atmosphere that resonates through her work. She combines narrative, emotions, and gestures into her sculptures which I can deeply relate to.
What or who inspires your art?
I am inspired by ideas from Taoism, Buddhism, neuroscience, and literature, such as The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera, the Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, The Virility Factor by Robert Merle, and by the beat generation for instance; Charles Bukowski, Jack Kerouac and Allan Ginsberg.
Where’s your studio and what is it like?
At the moment my studio is at the Royal College of Art, where I am able to create oil paintings and etchings. If covid lets us, then I plan to use the ceramic facilities for new sculpture ideas from September.
Do you have any studio rituals?
I do different types of meditations and yoga on a daily basis, which might not be considered as a studio practice but as a life practice that influences my work.
What are you working on currently?
I am working on a new series of oil paintings, which I plan to show in October at The Other Art Fair, and I just finished my sketches for a new series of etchings which as called ‘Welcoming the Sun’ and ‘Welcoming the Moon’.
Where can we buy your art?
You can get in touch directly with me, through my email: saravarady.art@gmail.com, my website: www.saravarady.com or my Instagram: sara.varady
