BOROS, Tamás (BoTa)
painter, graphic artist
(Born Sátoraljaújhely [Hungary], 18th December 1959.)
In the summer of 1975 at the Tokaj Art Colony he met Ferenc Lantos, who directed his artistic attraction to a more certain and more conscious path. Then in Tokaj he attended a printing course organised by the Hungarian Cultural Institute. He has lived in Budapest since 1978. In the summer of 1979 he attended the Gönc Art Colony, where he met artist János Fajó, who convinced him to leave the Academy of Fine Arts and get involved with the Pest Workshop, in which he printed his own and other contemporary artists’ serigraphic works and portfolio series between 1979 and 1992 (serigraphic portfolios for V. Vasarely, N. Schöffer, Max Bill, Lajos Kassák, and János Fajó’s series and prints of the Józsefváros Gallery, Budapest). Between 1979 and 1988 he also worked for the Józsefváros Gallery. He has been a member of János Fajó’s free art schools since 1979 (Gönc, Encs, Szerencs – Hungary). Between 1986 and 1993 he taught printing in Encs, Hungary. From 2000 on he was a leading teacher of Digital Technique and Graphic Department at the Szerencs International Art School and Colony, Hungary. In 1980 he founded the Csepel Workshop, a democratic art group. In 1990 he led a four-week serigraphic course at the Senej – State University of Art, (Soviet Union). Between 1990 and 2000 he ran his own creative design and printing studio. Between 1983 and 1995 he was a member of the Young Artists’ Studio, Hungary. The Pest Workshop helped him to publish his series in portfolios at a production price in 1984, 1988, 1989. Between 1989 and 1992 he participated the Kunstmesse in Basel, Switzerland. In 2002 his “Retrospective” exhibition of nearly 100 paintings and graphic works was organised in the Kazinczy Museum, Sátoraljaújhely, Hungary. From 2003 on he has been the art director of the contemporary Hungarian art magazine, “ArtMozaik”. In 2004 his book containing an introduction of his works and major stages of his art between 1974 and 2004 was published.
He is a member of the "New Concrete Artists" group, the National Association of Hungarian Creative Artists and of the Association of Hungarian Fine and Applied Artists.
As his Master he regards Lajos Kassák’s only disciple, artist János Fajó.
In the mid-70s his career began with the hesitation of figurative and abstract drawings. Then a starting point became the revelation that the invisible must be made visible in art. In 1975 he met Ferenc Lantos, whose theoretical guidance later combined with János Fajó’s practical attitude determined Boros’ artistic affiliation, his basic approach and practice in art, his way of career and devotion. His encounter with János Fajó back in 1979, and the continuous contact with him became the most important, essential experience for Boros and provided him with the help to create his own artistic program for life. He found the essence of the contact between view and means of expression. That led him to a certain direction from the theories of the constructive and geometric art to the tradition and art of a concrete form-creating. Up to the 80s he was influenced by op-art (Opening, 1979; Jux III, 1980), then the circle of geometric elements was reduced, and he started to visualise concrete form spaces and depth in the two-dimensions of the pictures (Space-Slot 1977). Later he used the elements and the details of the elements to build a certain form code based on space dynamism (Columns, 1980) and reduced geometric systems and turned to new-geometric painting following the accurate, clean formal elements of the hard-edge (Form Slot series, 1982). Dynamic sign systems created forms, which needed the variability of clear geometric elements, order in structure and clean colours (Hexahedron-Variant series, 1982; Folds II., 1983). Although his free shaped canvases searching for plasticity and shaped wooden works made around the mid-80s (Open Relationship I-II., 1986-87) return in his later works (Tight Squares, 1991; Tilted Triangles I., 2002), which provided a ground for further development. The main characters of his art are the sensuous, exact and concrete forms, while the colours of emotion and moods become secondary. Boros is a consequent concrete-form-making artist, who in formal terms sticks to exact and symmetrical shapes in two dimensions (Form Twist I., 1988; Wedge-Pair, 2001) and in three dimensions, too (Form-Cut I. 1979/2003; Circle-Square-Triangle, 2003). His works are built on the constructive setting of basic organic forms and on the meeting of the elements, where the personified subjective form-elements and the tight form-unity create a certain system. There is a jingling tension and a nearly unmoveable and unbreakable relationship between them. In the beginning the colours were contrasted, strong and vibrant (Embrace I., 1978; Strech I., 1992), then it was followed by balance and harmony, which made his colour scales softer (In the Net of the Circle I., 2005). In his working practice he used seriographics (nowadays exchanged for a calibrated monitor) and the small versions of his works painted with perfection to create the final colour effects. Boros’ three- and “two-dimensional” sculptures are close to his painting. His three-dimensional works (In the Net of the Triangle I-II., 2004) are the representations of his paintings and shaped canvases in space. This way the changing light- and shadow-values create a new constellation, a new visual environment each moment. This breakthrough has also changed the frames of the pictures, as they are now set by the outer edges of the elements. The relation, contact and interference of the forms make a playfully dynamic effect. The rhythm and interaction of the forms are enhanced by the homogeneous surfaces and the clean, monochrome colours. Thus Boros went beyond the tradition of classical painting, as breaking the frames made the pictures objects.
One-Man Shows
1978 • Cultural Centre - Sátoraljaújhely, Hungary
1980 • Structures Exhibition - Heavy-industry Technical University – Miskolc (H) • Ultraviolet Exhibition - Electrical Technical University E/7 Hall, Budapest • Structures Exhibition - Gallery 11., Technical University, Budapest • Csepel Gallery [with Géza Óvári and Zoltán Szlabey], Budapest (cat.) • Ultraviolet Exhibition - Imre Mezõ College, Budapest
1981 • Objekt-I., Cellar Club, Budapest [with Zoltán Szlabey]
1983 • Objekt-II., Ferencváros Cellar Gallery, Budapest [with Zoltán Szlabey] (cat.) • Objekt-III., Csepel Gallery, Budapest [with Zoltán Szlabey] • Photograms and Serigraphic Works, Vasas Mini-Gallery, Budapest (cat.)
1984 • Paintings, graphic works, objects, "Black and White" Hall, Young Artists' Club, Budapest (serigraphic portfolio)
1986 • Sérigraphique, Violet School Gallery, Budapest (serigraphic portfolio) • Boros Tamás and his Concrete Art Collection, Kernstok Hall, Tatabánya (H)
1989 • Sérigraphique, Young Artists' Club, Budapest (serigraphic portfolio)
1990 • Serigraphic Portfolios, Yon Gallery, Seoul, South-Korea • Colour and Form, Academy of Fine Arts, Senei, Soviet Union
2000 • md studio gallery, MEGA CENTER, Budapest
2001 • Digitart-Paintings, Gallery 21, Budapest (cat.)
2002 • Retrospective, Kazinczy Museum, Sátoraljaújhely (H) (cat.) • Paintings and Graphic Works, Small Gallery, Pécs (H) (“Életünk” art brochure)
2003 • Painting Selection 1982-2002, Csepel Gallery, Budapest (cat.)
2004 • Hotel Flamenco Hall, Budapest [with István Ézsiás] (cat.)
2005 • Plane and Space, Aranytíz Átrium Gallery, Budapest (cat.) • Selected Works, Millennium Center, ARTSZEM Modern Art Gallery, Budapest • Overlaps, Zsolt Udvar Gallery, Budapest
Selected group exhibitions (selection)
1974 • IX. National Poster Contest - The Olympic Games, Sátoraljaújhely (H)
1978 • 10th Anniversery Exhibition of the Student Art Camp, Cultural Centre, Tokaj (H) • Sátoraljaúhely Artists, Cultural Centre, Sátoraljaújhely (H)
1979 • Sátoraljaújhely Artists, Tokaj Gallery, Tokaj, (H)
1980 • Flat Covers, Józsefváros Gallery, Budapest • Postcard, Józsefváros Gallery, Budapest • La Biennale Di Venecia ‘80 – XXXIX, Velence, Italy • I. National Visual Experimental Art Colony, MMK Gallery, Paks (H) • Intergrafia ’80, Katowice, Poland
1981 • Csepel Workshop, Csepel Sport Hall, Budapest • Pesti Műhely 1974–1981, Pécsi Galéria, Pécs (H) • VI. Expo Arte, Gallery JK – Bari, Italy
1982 • Jewel, J. Galéria, Budapest • National Art Exhibition, Art Hall (Műcsarnok), Budapest • Csepel Workshop, Hall of the School of Commerce and Public Accountancy, Salgótarján (H)
1983 • Csepel Workshop, NME Gallery, Heavy-industry Technical University, Miskolc (H) • Pesti Workshop 1974-1983, J. Gallery, Budapest • XII. National Garphic Biannale, Miskolc Gallery, Miskolc (H) • Stúdió ’83, Ernst Museum, Budapest
1984 • MARIA Festival, Inner City Youth Centre, Budapest • National Fine Arts Exhibition, Art Hall (Műcsarnok), Budapest • Csepel Workshop, Magán Mini-Gallery, Budapest
1985 • Csepel Workshop, Vasas Mini-Gallery, Budapest • Centro Documentazione Edizioni Arte, Gallery JK, Rome, Italy • XIV. National Garphic Biannale, Miskolc Gallery, Miskolc (H)
1986 • Exhibition I. Graphics, Uitz Hall, Dunaújváros (H) • Art Today I.-International Exhibition, Hotel Hilton, Budapest • XXV. Summer Exhibition, Ferenc Móra Museum, Szeged (H) • hommage à max bill, Józsefváros Gallery, Budapest • Studio '86, Buda Castle Historic Museum, Budapest • Young Artists’ Studio, Holiday of Silver Shore Gallery, Balatonszéplak (H)
1987 • XV. National Garphic Biannale, Miskolc Gallery, Miskolc (H) • d’Atelier, St. Alban, Basel, Switzerland • Stúdió ’87, Ernst Museum, Budapest • IX. Balaton Summer Garphic Biannale, Tihany Museum, Tihany (H) • Art Today II. – International Exhibition, Budapest Gallery, Budapest • Young Hungarian Artists, Centrum Sztuky, Warsaw, Poland
1988 • Spring Exhibition, Art Hall (Műcsarnok), Budapest • Stúdió ’88, Ernst Museum, Budapest
1989–91 • Kunstmesse, Collecrots' Gallery, Basel, Switzerland
1991 • Stúdió ’91, Hungaryan National Gallery, Buda Castle, Budapest
1992 • Stúdió ’92, Ernst Museum, Budapest • Budapest Art Expo II., Hungexpo, Budapest
1993 • Young Hungarian Artist In Finland, Imarta, Nurmesz, Kuopio, Finland • Stúdió ’93, Budapest Gallery, Budapest • A mester köszöntése, Kassák Museum, Budapest
1994 • Budapest Art Expo IV., Hungexpo, Budapest
1995 • Budapest Art Expo V., Pesti Workshop, Hungexpo, Budapest • XIX. Summer School of Art, Kassák Museum, Budapest • Free Geometry, Kassák Museum, Budapest • Stúdió ’95, Vigadó Gallery, Budapest
1996 • Hommage à Kassák, Kassák Museum, Budapest • BAE ’96, Art Expo VI., Hungexpo, Budapest
1999 • Once upon a time there was the Józsefváros Gallery, Kévés Studio Gallery, Budapest
2000 • Pictures of a Collection, md studio gallery, MegaCenter, Budapest
2001 • MEO-Contemporary Art Collection, Blitz Gallery, Budapest • II. Colony of Artists Abádszalók, Cultural Centre, Abádszalók (H)
2002 • “With Open Heart”, Contemporary Art Exhibition and Auction, Budapest Gallery, Budapest • MEO-Contemporary Art Collection, Blitz Gallery, Budapest • Opening, Új Udvar Gallery, Budapest • Collectors and Collections All Art Magazine, Szombathely Gallery, Szombathely (H) • Fun, absraction in geometric art (1980s and 1990s), Somogy Gallery, Pápa (H) • Movement-Fun-Abstraction in the geometric art of the 1980s and 1990s, House of Arts, Csikász Gallery, Veszprém (H) • Tópaletta, International Colony of Artists, Tisza Lake, Gallery 21, Budapest • Architecture and Art in 10 Exhibitions, Kévés Studio Gallery, Budapest • MEO Art Fair 2002 - MEO-Contemporary Art Collection, Budapest • Contemporary Art Exhibition and Auction, Hotel Fiesta Gallery, Budapest
2003 • Spring Graphic Weeks, Fény Gallery, Budapest • Plein-Art V. Contemporary Art Festival, Városház Gallery, Budapest • Kõkapu – International Art Camp exhibition, MKISz Hall, Budapest • Europe Sculpture Park, Permanent Exhibition - Kőkapu (H) • Szalmaszál – Charity Exhibition and Auction, Andrássy Palace, Budapest • IV. National Colour Print Graphic Exhibition / Serigraphic Prints, House of Arts, Szekszárd (H) • Frontières et passages dans l’art de la médaille, Institut Hongrois, Paris, France • Blitz Winter Auction, Hotel Kempinski, Budapest • New Concretes, MEO Art Fair – MEO-Contemporary Art Collection, Budapest
2004 • Kőkapu - International Art Camp and Europe Sculpture Park exhibition, Rákóczi House, Miskolc Gallery, Miskolc (H) • Premiere, MAOE exhibition, Duna Gallery, Budapest • Boundaries and Passages of Medals, Árkád Gallery, Budapest • Dialogue – 2004, Millennium Salon, Budapest • costruttivismo-concretismo-cinetismo-madismo, Universo esprit de geometrie, Comune de San Nicola la Strada, Caserta, Italy • Small Sculpture Exhibition, Art Café Liget Platform, Hősök Square, Budapest • Modern Porcelain, Porcelain Museum, Hollóháza (H) • Hommage à Tibor Csiky, Lavotta Gallery, Sátoraljaújhely (H) • Europe-Sculpture Park in Kispest, Kispesti Vigadó Gallery and Garden, Budapest • Szöllősi-Nagy–Nemes Collection, Szentendre Mill, Szentendre (H) • Shadows Weavers-retrospektive, Miskolc Gallery, Miskolc • Omaggio all’arte geometrica, Museo Bargellini, Bologna, Italia
2005 • Sacrifice–Conciliation, Hungarian Jewish Museum, Budapest • Omaggio all’arte geometrica, MADI Museum & Gallery, Dallas, USA • International Steel Sculpture Festival, Rákóczi Garden, Csepel, Budapest • Charity Exhibition and Auction, Nagyházi Gallery and Auction House, Budapest • International Europe Sculpture Park exhibition, Albert Vetési Park of Grammar School, Permanent Exhibition, Veszprém • International Sculpture exhibition, Köztársaság Grove, Pápa • International Sculpture Garden, Lajos Hatvany Museum, Hatvan
Study trips, scholarships, symposiums (selection)
1982 Burgas, Bulgaria - scholarship study trip • 1987 Basel, Switzerland - invitation on a study trip ("sèrigraphique" experiments) • 1990 Senei, Soviet Union, State University of Art - International Symposium • 1992 Athens, Greece - invitation on a study trip (stones, marbles, travertines) • 2003 Hollóháza, Hungary - "Porcelain Symposium"
Works in Public Spaces
Space Sculpture, Counter Forms, wood (1983, Bánszállás (H) – destroyed)
Fountain, Space Opening, laminated chrome (1985, Újpalota, Budapest – pulled down)
Space Sculpture, Form-cut I., painted chrome (2003, Kőkapu (H), Europe Sculpture Park)
Space Sculpture, Tipping of Semicircle, porcelain and chrome (2004, Hollóháza (H), Europe Porcelain-Sculpture Park)
Space Sculpture, Form-cut II., painted chrome (2005, Veszprém (H), International Europe- Sculpture Park)
Works in Public Collections (selection)
Sátoraljaújhely (H): Public and Private Collections • Paks Gallery, Paks (H) • Miskolc Gallery (H) • Eva Meszlenyi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil • Viktor von Henk, Frankfurt, Germany • Seoul, Yon Gallery, Chorea • State University of Art Senej, Russia • FMK, Budapest • Art Camp Association Foundation, Hidasnémeti (H) • Tamperei Mältinranta Art Centre, Finland • Kassák Museum, Budapest • Arion Editor, Budapest • Abádszalók Local Authorities, Abádszalók (H) • Contemporary Art Collection, Budapest • Blitz Modern, Budapest • MEO – Contemporary Art Collection, Budapest • György Kévés Collection – Orczy Garden, Budapest • László Nudelman Collection, Budapest • Kazinczy Museum, Sátoraljaújhely (H) • István Harasztÿ – Contemporary Art Collection, Budapest • Art Workshop Fundation, Budapest • Europe Sculpture Park – Kőkapu (H) • Szöllősi-Nagy–Nemes Collection, Paris
Major works in typographic art (selection)
Károly Tamkó-Sirató: LE PLANISME 1936 – seriographic portfolio, Pest Workshop, 1981 • János Mattis Teutsch’s Linoleum Album – facsimile print, Pest Workshop 1983 • Vasarely – seriographic portfolios, Pest Workshop, 1983, 1984, 1985 • Lajos KASSÁK: 12 Picture Architecture – seriographic portfolio printed on the 100th anniversary of Lajos Kassák, Pest Workshop, 1986 • Max Bill – Budapest seriographic portfolio, Pest Workshop, 1986 • Nikolas Schöffer Variographic – seriographic portfolio, Pest Workshop, 1987 • MADI Art Periodical I. and II., MADI Museum Foundation, 1998 • János Fajó – Monography /Vince Publisher, 1999 • János Fajó: Plane Painting - Book, Vince Publisher, 1999 • János Fajó: I am master – Kassák at Workshop – Book, Vince Publisher, 2003 • László Vass Collection – Catalogue, Art V. Premier, 2004 • András Simon - Monography, ArtMozaik, 2004 • The Vision is Always Changing – Tamás Lossonczy - Book, Ernst Museum, 2004.
Books and publications (selection)
Black and White Distinguish from the Bor-Lant series /Arion Editor, 1980/1990/ • boros – 3-piece seriographic portfolio /Pest Workshop, 1984/ • Boros Tamás – 13 –piece seriographic portfolio /Pesti Workshop, 1988/ • Band – 4-piece seriographic portfolio /Pest Workshop, 1989/ • Picture Selection – Selected Works - 1982-2002 Catalogue /Riss Publisher, 2003/ • Tamás Boros - Book /ArtMozaik, 2004/ • In the Net of the Triangle - Brochure /Managerpress, 2005/
Publications written by him (selection)
boros – Print series in a portfolio: Foreword, Pest Workshop, 1984
boros introduces his picture “Open Relationship II.”, Bulletin – Hungarian Jewish Cultural Association, XV/8., 2003. October
Bibliography (selection)
Hírek, Észak-Magyarország, 1978. január 24.
H. J.: Újhelyi Tárlat, Észak-Magyarország, 1979
A konszolidációs festő, A MI egyetemünk, NME, Miskolc, 1980. február 4.
Molnár S.T.: Vernissage, Budapest, 1980. március 20.
Csepel Galéria kat., 1980. június 3.
H.I.: Meghívó és vendégkönyv, Csepel Újság, 1980. június 27.
Halász I.: Kisfészek az Ady Endre úton, Csepel Újság, 1980. július 25.
H.I.: Kiállítás a stadionban, Csepel Újság, 1981. január 30.
Molnár S.T.: Csepeli Műhely, Csepeli Sportcsarnok, (kat.bev.tan.) 1981. Március 3.
Halász Imre: A “műhely” bemutatkozik, Csepel Újság, 1981. március 6.
Grabócz G.: Objekt I., Pince Klub kiállítás, (kat.bev.tan.) 1981. március 16.
Kettős tárlat a Belvárosban, Csepel Újság, 1981. március 20.
Akció a mozgássérültekért, Csepel Újság, 1981. december 11.
Grabócz G.: Csepeli Műhely, PSzF, Salgótarján, (kat.bev.tan.) 1982. március 22.
Csepeli Műhely Salgótarjánban, Csepel Újság, 1982. március 26.
Kónya A.: Csepeli Műhely, Iskola Galéria, Besztercebánya, (kat.bev.tan.) 1982.
J.A.: A vártnál nagyobb siker, Csepel Újság, 1982. november 12.
Szabó J.: A Csepeli Műhelyről, Jelen-lét 11-12 szám, 1982. december
Csepel Újság kulturális melléklete, képek, 1982. december 21.
Csepeli Műhely, NME Galéria, Miskolc, (kat.bev.tan.) 1983. április 17.
Fajó J.: Csak ha rendíthetetlen hitetek lesz, szita katalógus, Csepel Galéria, (kat.bev.tan.) 1983.
Sárközi Z.: Objektek, Magyar Nemzet, 1983. június
Telkibánya-Gönc-Encs, 10 éves az Országos Képzőművészeti Alkotótábor, Budapest, 1986 (kat.)
Fajó J.: ~ kat.bev.tan., szita leporelló-katalógus, Lila Iskola Galéria, 1986.
Més-záros I.: Történet egy mappához, szitamappa-könyv, Pesti Műhely, 1987. október
Viktor von Henk: Érzéki vizuális a(bsz)trakciók, FMK megnyitó, 1989. március 16.
Sík Cs.: Tisztába tették, ajánlás, 1993.
Fajó életműkönyv, Vince Kiadó, 1999.
Fajó J.: Síkfestészet, Vince Kiadó, 1999.
Fajó J.: Fennakadva a szitán…, BoTa Mappa, Gyűjtők & Gyűjtemények, 2000/3.
Fábián L.: A titok rezignációja, ~ kiállítása kapcsán, Galéria 21. (kat. bev. tan., 2001.)
–dia–: A geometria világa, Csepel – A kerület közéleti lapja, 2001. május 25.
P.M.: Az alkotásra ichlető táj, Új Néplap, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok megyei napilap, 2001. június 19.
Lantos F.: ~ retrospektív kiállításához, Sátoraljaújhely, 2002.
Lantos F.: ~ pécsi kiállításán, Pécsi Kisgaléria megnyitó, 2002. június 21.
Fábián L.: A titok rezignációja, Életünk - Irodalmi, művészeti és kritikai folyóirat, színes Műmelléklet, Szombathely, 2002/10.
Kiállítások, Gyűjtők & Gyűjtemények, (Lantos F. bev. írás) 2002-2003/I.
Lantos F.: Gondolat-ok, Képválogatás – 1982-2002, Csepel Galéria, (kat. bev. tan., 2003.)
Harasztÿ I.: ~ – Csepel Galéria, ArtMozaik, (megnyitó részlet, 2003/02)
Európa szoborpark – Kőkapu (kat., 2003. Augusztus)
Temesi L.: Kőkapun vas-műtárgyak - Erdei tárlat, Art-Press, 2003.
Éva Vámos: Frontières passages dans l’art de la médaille, Exposition, 2004. április 14.
Martos G.: Kép/könyv-tár, Háromszög, kör, négyzet, Népszava/Szép szó, 2004. szeptember 11.
Fajó J.: Indulók és érkezők, MADI art periodical No6, 2004.
Hernádi M.: A Párizs-Budapest tengely, Új-Művészet, XV/12, 2004. December
Üveges K.: A háromszög hálójában, Áldozat-Engesztelés kiáll. (kat.bev.tan., Zsidó Múzeum, 2005.)
Üveges K.: Síkban és térben (kat.bev.tan., Aranytíz Átrium Galéria, 2005)
Új-Művészet, XVI/4, 2005. április
Audio-visual Media (selection)
Portrait film, TKTV Cultural News, Tatabánya (H), 15. December 1986.
Portrait film, Csepp TV Cultural New, 16. May 2001.
Sándor Szigeti: T. Boros – Retrospective, Sátoraljaújhely (H), 26. April 2002.
T. Boros’ painting, Pécs Small Gallery Exhibition, Hi8 recording, Pécs (H), 21. June 2002.
Portrait film, Csepp TV Cultural News, Csepel-Budapest , 9. January 2003.(Translation: Üveges Krisztina)
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]