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INSIGHTS | Interview with Orsolya Hegedus (acb Gallery)

For Art Brussels Insights, we spoke with Orsolya Hegedus, director of acb Gallery in Budapest,
about their upcoming participation in the Rediscovery section and the importance to
challenge the existing canon.

How would you describe the programme and vision of acb Gallery?
The main focus in our programme is on Hungarian art from the mid-1960s until today. Besides presenting historical and more recent works in our spaces or at fairs we also work on research and publications of 1960s and 1970s art in Hungary, trying to fill in gaps and initiating a challenge of the existing canon. We also collaborate with international artists whom we believe are important to place in dialogue with the local art scene to widen its horizon. The most important element of our vision is to influence the balancing of inequalities in the international acknowledgement of artists coming from disadvantageous backgrounds. Geopolitical position, nationality, gender or cultural background shouldn’t affect the evaluation of any artist’s work or his/her possibilities to be visible on the international art scene.

What will you be presenting at REDISCOVERY at Art Brussels 2019?
Our presentation will be a comprehensive selection of paintings by Imre Bak showcasing works from the first three decades of his oeuvre. Imre Bak will be 80 years old this year, and although his work is represented in several major institutions like Tate and the Metropolitan Museum, he still hasn’t received the recognition he deserves. By showing paintings that could rarely be seen outside of Hungary at the time of their creation – because of obvious reasons –, we aim to highlight both the parallels and the differences his art bears in comparison with his contemporaries in hard edge and minimal art. Through our selection we hope to disclose the roots and the early development of Bak’s
characteristic painterly programme that determines his current work.

What are the valuable aspects of taking part in Art Brussels for you?
For acb this occasion will be the first introduction to the Belgian market, so we hope that besides presenting a strong artistic position we can also show the approach and characteristics of the gallery and can start collaborating with collectors who are open to make new discoveries and to share the enthusiasm of our community for the art we represent.

Do you have any advice for young, aspiring art collectors?
I would suggest them to carefully select the professionals they work with. I believe in long term collaborations between collectors and galleries or consultants, as through the conversations with those people disappointments can be avoided. And finally, I cannot emphasize enough that quality is as important as references.

Images by order of appearance:
– Imre Bak, Feast, 1969, acrylic on canvas, 150x200cm
– Orsolya Hegedus with Imre Bak’s Triangle Cross, 1979, acrylic on fibreboard, 150×150 cm (photo: Soma Bradák)
– Imre Bak, Untitled, 1969, enamel paint on fiberboard, 195 x 45 cm (photo: Aknay Csaba)
– Imre Bak, Landscape transformation, 1974, acrylic on canvas, 160x100cm

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