Freedom of Expression in Art and Life

It only seems fitting that a young artist steeped in communist ideology would someday find his freedom in America and paint the portrait of one of Capitalism's ultimate successes – Ray Kroc, he of  McDonalds fame.  That was at the age of 23 back in 1966.  Since then Hungarian born Balazs Szabo has lived an extraordinary life whose long career continues to flourish. 

Son of prominent Hungarian actor Sandor Szabo, Balazs (pronounced Balage) was influenced early in his life to pursue art by a maternal grandfather who helped raise him.  As a child, Szabo would help his grandfather design custom lampshades which were sold on the black market or exchanged for food.  You must remember this occurred during the Soviet occupation of Hungary.

Szabo would later live with his father, stepmother, and older brother. His fortunes would briefly change for the better due to his father's privileged status as a celebrated actor. This environment allowed Szabo the opportunity to mingle with other actors, artists, poets, and musicians. This cauldron of creativity fueled his passion not for the performing arts but his penchant for "doodling" as Balazs calls it.

Unfortunately, the good life in Budapest was not to last.  The Soviets crushed the Hungarian revolt of 1956.  Sandor Szabo, who was never a Communist Party member, was placed under house arrest along with Balazs and the rest of the family. His harrowing tale of escaping house arrest is documented in his excellent memoir of those times in the 2006 book Knock In The Night (see review). It's a story so compelling that it garnered the interest of famed cinematographer Lazslo Kovacs whose credits included Easy Rider and Five Easy Pieces.  Unfortunately Kovacs unexpected death in 2007 ended his involvement in a possible film project regarding Szabo's memoir. The other family members would escape separately as they made their way to the Austrian border. After reuniting, Balazs and family would relocate to America.  In the late 60's, he would become art director for Liberty Records and its affiliated labels.  Based in Los Angeles, Balazs would regularly come in contact with such notable rock stars such as Sonny and Cher, and Ike and Tina Turner.  A funny story about an encounter with Tina will not be related here.

What can one say of Szabo's art?  It has been called "Fantastic Realism".  It's a term borrowed from a group of Austrian painters and their art movement dating back to the mid 20th century.  Szabo coined the term "Soft Surreal" which was the result of his Polynesian surreal works and an off shoot of The Viennese School of Fantastic Realists. No matter what term you use to describe his work, one would be hard pressed to deny its emotional impact.  It makes a connection, it expresses the universal and his paintings incite one to thought and conversation.  All the things great art is supposed to do.  While certainly influenced by the Surrealist movement and Salvador Dali, Szabo's art doesn't necessarily need an interpreter.  You just "get it".  For instance, the painting Alma (The victorious power of women over men) speaks for itself. You just have to see it.  And when you see it, you'll be shouting amen Balazs, amen!  And you don't have to understand the dynamic and rivalry between Picasso and Dali to understand the humor in Szabo's painting Pickled Picasso. 

Other works such as Devastation Trail require a working knowledge of native Hawaiian culture in order to experience its full impact and import. Szabo resided in the state for twenty years.

Moment is a painting that captures the indomitable spirit of those caught up in the Hungarian revolution.

Not limited to painting, Szabo has also undertaken sculpting and intaglio printmaking.  Much of his earlier work is contained in The Eye Of Muse.  The book is the Design Excellence Award Winner of the 1987 US Print National Competition.  The Eye OF Muse II is a follow up to the first book which contains many of his later works.  Balazs allowed me to take a sneak peek at a new book yet to be completed titled Rich Artist, Poor Artist.  It promises to be an inspirational work as well as a historical look at the way artists have plied their trade down through the centuries.

Currently residing in Hillsborough, North Carolina which Balazs calls Shangri La, he intends in the near future to open up a museum there. However the museum will not celebrate the dead, but instead focus on "the living artist" especially those early in their young careers who would benefit from the wisdom of Szabo and other like minded artists.  The plans for The Balazs Artist Discovery Museum Of NC envision an eco-friendly 7,000 sq. foot building containing an art studio, gallery, library, and a botanical garden housed on ten acres.  Szabo hopes a thriving artistic community can develop there where artists can sell their works directly to the public without the restraints of numerous middlemen, and the coercion by undesirable elements that he refers to as the "art mafia".

I recently asked Balazs about his impression of present day Hungary and the artistic community there.  His reply was that artists there "have no identity and outside of mimicking western decadent and often meaningless "shock effect", art there has little originality.  It will take three more decades for a very talented nation to find its identity again". Balazs Szabo is a man who doesn't take freedom and artistic integrity for granted.  As a child he grew up in an environment where merely listening to Radio Free Europe was deemed a crime.  He knows first hand the lengths an oppressive, totalitarian regime will go to in order to extinguish free expression.  His career has been a reaction against the rigid ideals and paralyzing propaganda of those agents of oppression who stand in the way of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  To learn more about this amazing man and view art work, visit: 
www.balazsart.com