INTERTHINKING: THE IMPACT OF HUNGARIAN ARTISTS ON CONTEMPORARY GENERATIVE ART
Published at artmagazin.hu on 2024-11-13 by Ágnes Flóra Ferenczi
On October 17th, the exhibition “Interthinking” opened at the Budapest Art Factory, curated by Kate Vass Galerie. The show celebrates Hungarian cultural heritage and the impact of Hungarian artists on the international generative art scene.
The title “Interthinking” is inspired by a concept from György Kepes that emphasizes collaboration between humans and technology and the dynamic relationship between art and science. The exhibition honors Hungarian artists like László Moholy-Nagy, Victor Vasarely, Nicolas Schöffer, György Kepes, Vera Molnár, Brassaï, and André Kertész, who integrated technology into their work, shaping new directions and inspiring the conceptual foundation of the generative and AI art field. Visitors can explore the art of these pioneers through documentary films and artworks. The artworks were lent by Ferenc Offenbacher, founder and director of the Kepes Institute.
In addition to Hungarian artists, the show features works by seven international contemporary generative talents, including Iskra Velitchkova, Marcelo Soria-Rodríguez, Kevin Abosch, Mario Klingemann, Studio u2p050, Laura Rautjoki, and Julien Gachadoat. Each piece was created specifically for this exhibition and reflects on the themes and breakthroughs of these Hungarian masters. By presenting pioneering Hungarian and contemporary works side by side, “Interthinking” establishes a visual dialogue between past and present art.
"Interthinking” an exhibition curated by Kate Vass Galerie at Budapest Art Factory｜Photo: Orsolya Egressy © Kate Vass Galerie
This exhibition not only honors the greats of the past but also provides insights into the world of generative art. Art and science have always shared a symbolic relationship. Artists have long used technological advancements for creative expression, from the use of the camera obscura in the Renaissance to photography in the late 19th century. The rise of digital technology in the 20th century opened new directions for art, inspiring numerous movements, including generative art.
"Interthinking” an exhibition curated by Kate Vass Galerie at Budapest Art Factory｜Photo: Orsolya Egressy © Kate Vass Galerie
Generative art emerged in the 1960s, when creators began to use autonomous systems like computer programs and algorithms for artistic expression. At that time, computers were enormous, costly machines, accessible only in large corporations or universities. As a result, artists often collaborated with these institutions and the scientists working there. A defining feature of this movement is that artists establish a predetermined set of rules, using the computer as a tool to execute these instructions. Chance also plays a significant role in the creative process, as the computer generates multiple variations based on these rules, allowing the artist to select the final composition. Technological advancements, such as FORTRAN—one of the first programming languages enabling complex mathematical calculations—and the spread of plotter machines, which used mechanical arms to draw compositions on paper, were crucial to the development of early generative art. Artistic movements also played a significant role: geometric abstraction, the interdisciplinary approach of the Bauhaus, and the rule-based methods of Op Art all helped pave the way for computer-generated art. The Dada movement, with its innovative use of materials and focus on chance, along with conceptual art—particularly Sol LeWitt's wall drawings—directly inspired the principles of the movement.
The work of many Hungarian artists also laid the groundwork and provided direct inspiration for the emergence of this art form, continuing to influence contemporary creators today.
Marcelo Soria-Rodríguez, identity space through light and three layers: a digital/analog study, 2024｜Photo: Orsolya Egressy © Kate Vass Galerie
László Moholy-Nagy was a pioneer in bridging technology and art, especially through his explorations with light-shadow effects and kinetic sculpture. His early works, including photograms, caught the attention of Walter Gropius, the founder of the Bauhaus, who invited him in 1923 to lead the school’s Metal Workshop. The Bauhaus provided an ideal environment for Moholy-Nagy to experiment with new techniques and materials, integrating modern technology and industrial methods with the visual arts. Here, he created one of his most famous works, the “Light-Space Modulator”, a kinetic sculpture made of metal and glass that produced patterns through the dynamic play of light and shadow. Later, as the leader of the New Bauhaus school in Chicago, he inspired many students to explore emerging technologies, media, and innovative methods.
In this exhibition, the Spanish generative artist Marcelo Soria-Rodríguez presents an interactive piece that draws on Moholy-Nagy’s key ideas— his studies of light and the modulation of space. His work, titled “identity space through light and three layers: a digital/analog study”, was inspired by Moholy-Nagy’s 1926 “Photogram Mondgesicht” and the “Light-Space Modulator”.