Interview for Ákos Ezer: “At least we had fun today…”
L21 Gallery unveils the inaugural solo showcase in Spain by Ákos Ezer, hailing from Hungary and born in 1989. Ezer presents an array of young men in this exhibition, characterized by contemporary and cultural allusions. These figures inhabit the canvases of the Hungarian artist, entwining their elongated limbs in abstract compositions. The surreal representations of these painted bodies frequently occupy the entirety of the canvas, forming a structured geometric boundary that appears to confine the depicted individuals. Their contorted, stooped postures and vacant gazes give them the appearance of melancholic marionettes subject to an unseen authority, a stark contrast to the vibrant and bold color palette employed in the artworks. These pieces convey themes such as purposeless actions, mass culture, and accumulation with empathy and humor, avoiding any sense of trivialization.
RV: Raquel Victoria from L21
AE: Ákos Ezer
RV: Well, who is Akos Ezer and what does he do?
AE: It depends on when you ask this question. He is from Hungary, an artist, mainly a painter, but sometimes a sculptor or graphic artist, and very rarely/for fun/ or in the past, a 3D modeler and animator, which helps a lot on his current sculptural projects.
In my current role, I am mainly an exhibitor at L21 Palma: Room 3, and I hope that I will do well in this role. Will try my best.
RV: Could you tell us what you have prepared for this project? Have you had a fun time?
AE: Yes absolutely, this is the first time that I am able to exhibit more than two of my largest canvases (235 x 400 cm) in the same room, so it was a really exciting project for me. It could have been scary to only work on a large scale, in such a large space, but I decided that the material will be good if I really make compositions that I really like, and without any hesitation. So, it was a dynamic and fun process.
RV: How did you arrive at the title “At least we had fun today…” for this project, and what significance does it hold for you?
AE: I mostly work without imposing thematic or intellectual limits on myself. The creation of the picture begins with a sketch, I mainly pay attention to the composition and the placement of the figures.
This is a very quick doodle that avoids any detail or elaboration.
This is important because this is what starts the association process, I add colors, objects, patterns and other elements in my head.
After that, I continue working on the canvas, and here I work out the details of the drawing with chalk or a brush, and finally, after several hours of work, the final painting is ready. I mainly focus on the stylistic unity of the image, but the objects are tools and the absurdity of the situations already carries the possibilities of interpretation of the image, but I don’t consciously focus on this, mainly I only evaluate these aspects afterwards. That’s how it happened now.
RV: This is a typical question, but seeing the dimensions of the works and their main theme, I would like to know what the creative process of Ákos Ezer is like. And how do you approach the theme of the pieces?
AE: I usually define the overall ideas of the finished paintings, during the painting process the focus is not mainly on the conceptual background, but rather on the technical tools and I try to create a uniform exhibition material from an aesthetic point of view. It’s like an associative game, so I am really open to hear your personal thoughts or ideas about the works.
RV: The characters in your paintings are composed in scenes where their bodies fit together to form the composition. These postures are a trademark of yours, where do they come from? Any notable influences?
AE: In the beginning, I made the compositions less complicated, although they were already twisted figures and bodies. Over time, I felt that I needed this baroque-like constructive attitude. Maybe because of my classical/academic background. These are the things that promise the most challenges, and that’s why I like to paint a picture again and again.
Of course, there are many other artists who create group compositions, or distorted human characters. I have always made sure to build a kind of unique and individual toolbox, which distinguishes my works from others. The biggest difficulty since the age of the internet is to find an empty field that you can fill with unique content.
RV: How would you describe the activities that take place in your work?
AE: I am a kind of craftsman who likes coincidences, mistakes, inaccuracies and the resulting uniqueness. The thought and conceptual side of art is not close to me, and I would rather act twice than think once.
RV: Could you delve into the symbolism behind some of your specific works, like “Superheroes” and “Butterfly collectors”?
AE: We can say that the activities of these characters are meaningless actions, like flash mobs.
In the painting “Superheroes”, the guys wearing Halloween masks, like children, could be a metaphor for the mass culture industry of nowadays.
I’ve always been interested in the kind of behavior where people escape to different dream worlds or alternate realities, or just visit them occasionally to relax. I also play my part in this normally, I consume series, play board games and computer games.
This is not a real criticism, but rather a sign of my agreement with the phenomenon, an attempt to accept it.
It’s the same situation with the painting “Butterfly collectors”, could be a symbol of the collecting and possessing things/objects. In this case, instead of the alternative reality, we try to systematize reality and thereby interpret it. I’m also obsessed with objects, luckily it also brings me joy when I can make them.
RV: I’ve always seen food fights in the movies. I’ve always found them pruriently amusing, although deep down, knowing me, I’d end up overwhelmed. Could you tell us a bit about your fight? Have you experienced one?
AE: Maybe I experienced it on a miniature level. In the school canteen, a pea or two flew over to the next table. Some years later I pushed a slice of cake into someone else’s face as a teenager. It’s every child’s dream to experience something like this one day, and when we grow up we understand how much of a waste it would be, luckily I was able to fulfill these desires a little by painting the picture with these elements.
RV: In your paintings it seems that all the characters are men. Is this correct? Or is there any other gender? Are these figures based on people close to you?
AE: Yes, they are all men. Maybe they are different alter egos of mine. Not in their looks, rather in their other properties. Their gender does not play a role in the story they play. However, I think many of us can identify with the characteristics of the protagonists.
RV: In general, the expressions of your characters have a sombre air. What is the reason for this choice? Are they not having a good time?
AE: Rather, I would say that behind their efforts and struggles there is an inner serenity that allows them to actively try to fail at something every day.
RV: There are many people who listen to music and draw inspiration from it during their creative processes. What would be the soundtrack of the works?
AE: One of the Gorillaz Tracks from the Plastic Beach album. The choice of yours.
RV: And the last question, and the most important: Did you have fun today?
AE: Of course, I always make sure to have time and do something just for fun.
Interview with Akós Ezer by Raquel Victoria in September 2023
The Consell de Mallorca has subsidised this activity.
