The Lake Balaton Art Residency is the main programme of our Foundation, organised for the first time in 2018. Our aim is to provide a high quality professional environment and a relaxed and calm atmosphere for the artists to realise their ideas. Over the years, we have hosted close to fifty talented artists. Each year, an independent professional jury is challenged by a large number of applications, to select the winning ones.
The residency programme and the creative work of the artists are supported by an established, successful contemporary Art Mentor. The Art Mentor is a facilitator and supporter, helping artists realise their own potential and ideas – if the artist wishes to take up the opportunity.
In many cases, Artist meet each for the first time at the art residency. During the workshop, we organise professional and social events, where we invite renowned experts in the field to give a lecture. In addition, discussions, bonfires and maybe even a barbecue contribute to a relaxing time together.
We attach great importance to the high quality of the workshop, both in terms of organisation, execution and education. We would like our artists to have the opportunity to have fun and to express their creativity, but also to meet other artists of the same artistic nature, or even to establish business contacts that could lead to future collaboration with our partners and sponsors.
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The scene of the Lake Balaton Art Residency is Szólád, a village boasting a bit more than 500 residents, located 5 km from the south coast of Lake Balaton. This idyllic setting is the perfect environment to express free creativity.
Photo: Dávid Bíró
Botond Keresztesi is one of the talents of today’s generation of artists recognised not only in Hungary but internationally as well. Born in 1987 in Târgu Mureș, Romania, he graduated from the Hungarian University of Fine Arts in 2012. He has been a member of the Studio of Young Artists Association as well as the Csakoda Group since 2010. He was awarded the Derkovits Scholarship between 2016 and 2018. He lives and works in Budapest, his works, exhibited all around the world, have received significant international attention.
Theme:
You are a puppet!
(From Pinocchio to Amazon Alexa)
The central element of the theme is the anthropomorphized puppet, or the figure dubbed a robot in Karel Capek’s 1921 drama R.U.R. From prehistoric times onwards, carved deities, puppets and totems have accompanied art throughout history. A popular subject of the early avant-garde, Dada or surrealism, but also a central motif of the artists of the Bauhaus. So the main question is what actually happened to this carved idol and mask, initially representing God and later his image, over the centuries, and then in the twentieth century the robot is created, initially a servant of man, then gradually part of our everyday life, and then in our present life became a disembodied soul, which we can talk to in the form of an algorithm through a headset. What is actually the purpose of this impersonation or depersonalization, and who or what is actually the avatar of God.
During the Art Residency, we offer a variety of programmes for the artists: Art Mentor support during the Creative Workshop, professional talks and lectures with other fellow artists, entertainment,campfire and barbecue, open workshops, and a joint exhibition.
During the art residency, we provide artists with a high quality professional leadership support from a renowned, established and successful local contemporary artist(s). In the past 2 years, we had the honour to welcome two famous Hungarian artists as Art Mentors: Attila Kondor and Róbert Batykó.
Our Art Mentors provide answers to professional and career-related questions, and offer a range of advice to help artists achieve further success.
Participation in social programmes is optional for all artists. Over the years, many friendships and long-lasting professional relationships have been formed around the campfire, over a barbecue or while getting to know each other’s work.
The exhibition, which follows the two weeks long art residency closes the whole event. Here, visitors will not only be able to view the finished works, but can also meet and get to know the artists themselves. This further promotes better understanding of local artists and recognition of their work.
"Always a different place and different people... I like being among familiar surroundings and company, but Szólád is none of these. I did not regret applying, and I am glad to have participated in the programme. The hospitality and professional support eased the creative process day by day: there was time and space to reflect, relax and engage in professional discussions. Organisation and felxibility were both present. Thanks to the organisers!"
"I would once again like to thank the organisers, the hosts and everyone that worked on this Art Residency, but most of all Ildi and David for this amazing opportunity! I fully recommend it to all artists, it was a great summer programme, a chance to unwind, and last but not least a fantastic professional discussion for the participants. There aren't many such opportunities within arm's reach and I am truly happy to have participated in the Art Residency at Szólád."
"I was overwhelmed by the unexpected help at the Art Residency, the organisers showed a level of dedication to the artists that is out of the ordinary. Thank you very much for this."
"I thorougly enjoyed the Art Residency in Szólád, the company gathered there was great, each moment was an experience. The creative energy is guaranteed!"
"This Art Residency was an exceptional vacation full of creativity and cheerful company under the canopy of trees."
"Working in such a beautiful place and among such kind people is truly a fantastic experience. It was great to get out of the urban studio and into an environment where you recieve so much positive attention. It is rewarding in all aspects."
"It was my first time visiting Szólád and I loved the area. They found an amazing place for the Art Residency and the company was great as well. I can only recommend!"
"At the Lake Balaton Art Residency we were able to create in a concentrated, professional and inspiring environment, for which the organisers provided us with all the necessary foundations and surroundings. The mentoring programme really helped us to open our eyes to other perspectives and to engage in discourse alongside our creative work. The great creative opportunity was made even better by the environment, the company and the organisation."
“The professional organisation, the pleasant environment and the atmosphere of the village made our one week stay there a true experience. The participating artists’ works based on the local themes managed to capture the spirit of the place.”
“I can’t thank the organisers enough for the summer Art Residency and the festival surrounding it, after all, it provided exactly the company and creative atmosphere that I expected.”
“Last summer I was lucky enough to participate in the Lake Balaton Art Residency, where besides the intensive work, I had a lot of great experiences, of which I would highlight the amazing company and the exceptional organisation.”
“The mentor programme of the Art Residency at Szólád works much like the focus of a camera lens: it helps young artists gather and concentrate their artistic energies. This can create an amazing opportunity for an art residency to become a true intellectual workshop.”
“The summer art residency had a great atmosphere, the people that were brought together were all friendly and cheerful.”
“Szólád was my first art residency after university, and it gave me enough drive to paint for a long time. New thoughts and projects were born during that short but intensive week full of creation.”
“The Lake Balaton Art Residency is a great example to show how it is possible to bring artists with differing mindsets and attitudes together in order to reach a higher stage in their own artistry through getting to know each other’s works.”
Conditions of application:
The winners will be selected by an independent jury of artists and art historians. Maximum of 15 artists will be selected.
For selected artists the Foundation will provide:
Expectations:
Recommendation for the application work submitted:
The evaluation aspects are: The quality of the work plan submitted by the applicant, Previous artworks and exhibitions, The applicant’s professional background
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