A volume showcasing the life and career of Steven Balogh, a Hungarian-born American painter, has been launched in New York. The album takes the reader on a detailed tour of Balogh's oeuvre, which is characterised by an approach based on the traditions of performance, concept and body-art, as well as the use of texts and text fragments.
Phantom I., 1978, silkscreen, drawing on paper, 70 x 100 cm
LINY: In 1987 you arrived in New York as a political refugee with a suitcase and 300 dollars. Since then, you have had 18 solo and several group exhibitions, and recently published your first volume dedicated to your life and career. When did the idea for the album first come to you?
SB: The idea for the album was conceived years ago, first planned to be 100 pages, then 140-160 pages. It grew and grew and eventually it was 234 pages. It is a lot of work, data collection, research, editing, planning, which would not have been possible without my wife, partner and muse, FiNike.
My New York publisher (QCC Art Gallery Press) proved to be a wonderful help as they have already published some very high quality art albums and catalogues – thier advice and experience helped me to realize the book that I had imagined and dreamed of. Recently we have also started to work on a second book with them, which is now in the planning stage. Art historian Lili Boros has written a major study focusing on the works of the early years of my career, while I have also selected excerpts from the works of art historian and museologist József Bárdosi, and art critic and the editor of Balkon, István Hajdu. On the American side, I have compiled the written material from essays and reviews of my recent exhibitions in New York, written by prominent experts.
LINY: Who is your muse to whom You are dedicating this book?
SB: Ildikó Balogh Bathó, aka FiNike is my wife, my partner, my lover, who unconditionally believes in me, stands by me and tirelessly supports my work...
Metamorphosis, 2016, archival pigment print, 52x52cm
LINY: What inspires you in your art at the moment? Which artists influence you the most currently?
SB: As bizarre as it may sound, chaos, confusion and the fluctuation of change inspires my art. Rampant chaos is the true metaphor for art, art is nothing but chaos: it is the transformation of matter scattered in a thousand directions into a whole through the alchemy of art. This is at the heart of aesthetic approach and creation in our current time.
Some of the artists have absolutely no influence on me. Where my interest lies is at the fusion of different trends, ideas, styles, expressions, from the West and the East... I seem to inspire others...
LINY: Where are your works currently on display?
SB: I am constantly exhibiting in group shows around the world. This summer I had a solo exhibition in Szentendre, Hungary. My next solo exhibition is opening soon at Gallery MC in New York, opening from January 5 to February 4. A reception with a book launch is planned for January 14.
In Hungary, my next exhibition will be in Budapest in May at the Vajdahunyad Castle in the City Park.
About the artist
Steven Balogh, born Istvan Vilmos Balogh in Hegyhátszentpéter, Hungary in 1954. He lived in Budapest, from 1961, until his emigration. In 1995 he became a US citizen and changed his name to Steven Balogh, he signs his artworks under this name. Steven Balogh’s art figures are in the permanent collections of museums in the US, Asia and Hungary. He has participated in dozens of group shows in Europe, the USA and Asia with great artists: Matisse, Christo, and Mapplethorpe. He had 21 solo exhibitions, four recently in New York City.