The first idea that it would be interesting to study the phenomenon of Hungarian graphic design more deeply came down on me back in 2018. This was when I organized an exhibition of graphics and posters by István Orosz in Novy Museum, St. Petersburg, and welcomed him in the city. In 2024 we crossed paths online when working in the jury of the «Golden Bee» Global poster biennale, so, of course, István was the first person I wrote to when I started working on the Hungarian issue of the «Projector».
We created this issue together with Anzhelika Sarkisyan. And that’s what she says: «It has been a great honor for me to interact with such a rich and original collection of works from the masters of the Hungarian design school. We aimed to highlight the creative method of each author while also identifying common themes across all the techniques.»
The magazine opens by an interview of István Orosz. He says: «My teachers would call posters the art of the XX century, which was true for the time. I would be very happy if the young generation didn’t forget the way of thinking appropriate for poster-making.»
«Be young in your mind, your art, your poster making (but the question is how long you’ll be able to afford that)» — advises István Horkay.
«Artistic intuition is not the same as being stubborn or even over-confident», — assures Péter Bence Simon.
Dóra Keresztes says: «My best ideas often come down on me when I am half asleep, because this meditative state empowers free imagination.»
«This „Instagram stress“ always makes me question myself about where I am in this mess», — asks László Nagy.
«I enjoy good food, drinks, being in nature, petting animals, „touching the grass“, experiencing a childlike sense of wonder about the world again — music, theatre, movies, exhibitions. Not checking my phone, just truly living in the moment, just being», — shares Anna Korolovszky.
«I went to high school in a small country town, I was a teenager and I didn’t know what I would be when I grew up. But I really liked to draw, I was mainly interested in art and girls», — recollects József Árendás.
«In this ever-changing, exciting, and difficult world, art and creation could and should stay a safe harbour and a unifier that can open our eyes, help us find our way and keep going», — says Dóra Balla.
«I don’t do anything better than others — because I do something else and therefore it is not comparable!», — believes Kata Káldor. Sha also advises: «Please travel — this gives a kind of flexibility, and flexibility is what also develops your personality», — and we totally agree with her!
«Be brave, self-identified and, last but not least, patient with yourself and the world», — says Andrej Tóth.
Enjoy the «Projector» with a selection of interviews of top-ten Hungarian poster designers.
