Adrián Kupcsik

A D R IĂ N K U P C S IK 2014/15

Chimera- Projec t Galler y

Chimera-Project Gallery Klauzál tér 5.

H-1072 Budapest Patrick Urwyler Director & Owner +36 30 768 29 47 patrick@chimera-project.com www.chimera-project.com

CONTENT Introduction

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Article

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Works

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Curriculum Vitae

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Chimera-Project 38

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Women with Easel (After George Braques), 2014 (detail) GiclĂŠe print 70x50 cm

INTRODUCTION

A D R I Á N K U P C S IK Ab out t he ar t ist

Adrián Kupcsik graduated from the University of Fine Art in Budapest in 2001, where he also earned his DLA in 2009. Since early 2000 his program is developing a pictorial language, which brought him many acknowledgements: Kupcsik won the STRABAG International Art Award (2002), the Ludwig Foundation Prize (1999) and the Deutsche Telekom Fine Art Award (2000).

Adrián Kupcsik developed a versatile but unified pictorial language and a highly conceptual artistic practice based on a series of transformation processes, crossing different medias, such as painting, photography, drawing and sculpture. Kupcsik is distilling his own dialect from the great eras of painting: mixing the pictorial rhetoric of the analytical cubism, futurism and the artist’s earlier works’ cyberpunk characteristics gives birth to a new aesthetic.

This results not only in a radical reinterpretation of the classical historical genres of painting, but suggests a contemporary and dystopian reading of the fetishisation of power, either in sexuality, in personality cult, or in the artistic canon.

The central term of his artistic process he describes as decomposition. Adrián Kupcsik’s endeavour lies in the deconstruction of iconic figurative images: first he builds his chosen iconic figurative reference in a 3D model from leftovers found in his studio, and then immediately starts to manually decompose it. This step by step process is documented with photos. The final artwork captures the last stadium of deconstruction, either in photo, painted on canvas or as a drawing.

Since the destroyed 3D models are built of leftovers from former painting processes, the sampling of Kupcsik not only becomes a reinterpretation of the iconic images but always includes a direct reflection of his own personal past as a painter alike.

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A RTICLE

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T U R N I N G POIN T S

by Z s olt P et r án y i

He a d o f t h e C o n t e mp o r a r y Co lle ctio n a t th e Hu n g a r ian N ati onal Gal l ery

In his work, Kupcsik explores how the representation of reality can acquire symbolic and metaphorical meanings. His paintings are often compositions based on groups of arranged objects or fragmented spaces, in search of today’s definition of the classical values and techniques of the medium. His theme is the political conditions of the past and present, which he transcribes into the language of painting.

In his most recent work he uses draft scale models made from simple materials to analyse the relationship of the model and its painted image. Part of this series is the pair of portraits of Sergei Krikalev and the American radio amateur Margaret Laguinto (see page 28/29), who was in contact with him in the absurd historical situation when Krikalev was stuck on the MIR space station because the Soviet Union that sent him there fell apart. The astronaut got the news of the fall of the Iron Curtain and the collapse of the communist system on an illegal radio channel.

Article in catalog: Turning Points, The twentieth century through 1914, 1939, 1989 and 2004, Exhibition at the Hungarian National Gallery, 14. November 2014 – 15. February 2015.

W ORKS / NUDES

NUDES 2015

Miss Avignon, 2015 Oil on canvas 140x100 cm

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Monsieur et Mademoiselle Avignon, 2015 Oil on canvas 140x96 cm

W ORKS / NUDES

People from Avignon Street, 2015 Oil on canvas 135x120 cm

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Les Messieurs et Demoiselles d’Avignon III., 2015 Charcoal on paper 70x100 cm

W ORKS / NUDES

Miss Avignon, 2015 (detail) Oil on canvas 140x100 cm

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W ORKS / NUDES

Les Messieurs et Demoiselles d’Avignon I., 2015 Charcoal on paper 70x100 cm

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Les Messieurs et Demoiselles d’Avignon II., 2015 Charcoal on paper 70x100 cm

W ORKS / PORTR A I TS

PORTRAITS 2014/ 15

Pope’s Shape, 2014 (detail) Oil on canvas 150x150 cm

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W ORKS / PORTR A I TS

Giovanni e Giovanna, 2014 Oil on canvas 120x160 cm

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Deconstructed Lady with an Ermine, 2014 GiclĂŠe print 70x50 cm

W ORKS / PORTR A I TS

Pope’s Shape, 2014 Oil on canvas 150x150 cm

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Women with Easel (After George Braques), 2014 GiclĂŠe print 70x50 cm

Deconstructed Breakfast, 2014 (detail) GiclĂŠe print 70x50 cm

W ORKS / PORTR A I TS

Hans-Ulrich the Curator, 2014 Oil on canvas 90x77 cm

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Sir Nicholas the Powerful, 2015 Oil on canvas 70x100 cm

W ORKS / PORTR A I TS

Vladimir the Politician, 2015 Charcoal on paper 70x100 cm

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Luc the Painter., 2015 Charcoal on paper 70x100 cm

W ORKS / PORTR A I TS

Maggie the Operator, 2014 Oil on canvas 97x83 cm

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Sergey the Astronaut, 2014 Oil on canvas 101x72 cm

W ORKS / ABSTRA CTS

A B S T R A C TS 2014/ 15

Cut Paste III., 2015 Oil on canvas 115x80 cm

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Cut Paste I., 2014 Oil on canvas 120x80 cm

No Title, 2015 (detail) GiclĂŠe print 70x50 cm

C URRICULUM VITA E

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A D R I Á N K U P C S IK *1969, M is k olc , H u n g a ry | l i v e s a n d w o rk s i n B udapest, H ungary

STUDIES 2006–2009 1996–2001

Hungarian University of Fine Arts, DLA Program, Budapest, HU Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Budapest, HU

AWARDS & GRANTS 2002 2000 1999 1998

STRABAG International Art Award Deutsche Telekom, Fine art award Ludwig Foundation Prize, HU CW Bank Austria, International fine art award

SOLO EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION) 2014 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2005 2004 2003 2001 2000

Tightrope Walk, with Géza Perneczky, Lőrinc Borsos, Chimera-Project Gallery, Budapest, HU Flood, Institute of Contemporary Art, Miskolc, HU Good, Municipal Gallery, Kiscelli Museum, Budapest, HU Functioning of the heart, Deák Erika Gallery, Budapest, HU Adult portrait, Liget Gallery, Budapest, HU Karton Gallery, with Ágnes Szépfalvi, Budapest, HU Pleasant weather, mendacious words, Deák Erika Gallery, Budapest, HU Budapest message, Ron Mandos Gallery, Rotterdam, NL Moratorium, Deák Erika Gallery, Budapest, HU Lola T, Deák Erika Gallery, Budapest, HU Hungarian Institute, Bucharest, RO

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GROUP EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION) 2014

2012

2011 2010 2008 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

2001

2000

Turning Points, National Gallery, Budapest, HU Freehand, MODEM, Centre for Modern and Contemporary Arts Debrecen, HU A la cARTe, George Kepes Institute, Eger, HU What Is Hungarian? Contemporary Answers, Kunsthalle, Budapest, HU Joy and disaster, SMAK, Gent, BE Donumenta, Regensburg, DE Lenmechanics, Ernst museum, Budapest, HU Ludwig Museum, 10. STRABAG International Art Award, Award Winners Space Art, Millenaris “D” hall, Budapest, HU EU-Positive, Akademie der Kunste, Berlin, DE Aura, After the aera of technical reproducibility, Millenaris Park, Budapest, HU Madrid, Communidad De Madrid, Cruising Danubio, ES Systematica, SAIC, Chicago, USA ArtPrimeur 2002, Dordrecht, NL Contemporary Hungarian Painters, Lewerkusen, DE “Je regretterais beaucoup …”, FRAC Basse-Normandie, Caen, FR Crosstalk, Kunsthalle, Budapest, HU

WORKS IN COLLECTIONS STRABAG Collection, AT Institute of Contemporary Art, Dunaújváros, HU Kiscelli Museum, HU Il Bacio de Stille Collection, International SELECTED PUBLICATIONS Turning Points, Frieze Magazine, 2015/ April (upcoming) Boros Lili, A műhöz vezető út. Flash Art Hungary 2014/ March p.76-77.

Contemporary Art in Hungary, 2011-2012.

Dékei Krisztina, Lebegő valóság. Magyar Narancs 2011/ December.

Múzeumcafé 2010/ June.

ArtFolio 2010, catalog.

Donumenta 2010, catalog.

Hornyik Sándor, Elmosódó realitás. Új Művészet 2007/ Febuary.

Petrányi Zsolt, A fantázia rendje - megjegyzések K. A. festészetéről. Lettre 2005/ Autumn.

C URRICULUM VITA E

Hunyadi Szilvia, Nemzetközi jelenlét. Műértő 2005/ February.

P. Szabó Ernő, Palota, nyitott kapukkal. Új Művészet 2004/ April.

Sándor Zsuzsanna, Arcmások divatja. 168 Óra 2004/ March 11.

Készman József, A nonfigurativitás reálpatológiája. Műértő 2004 / March.

Petrányi Zsolt, A technistákról - tágabb értelemben, Műértő 2004/ January.

At the cutting edge of the contemporary hungarian art. Cruising Danubio 2004.

Vágvölgy B. András, K A paintings. Hungarian Cultural Season in the Netherlands 2004.

Kupcsik Adrián. Új lapot nyitunk 2004.

Radnóti Sándor, Aura. Élet és Irodalom 2003/ November.

Ecsetvonások. Horizon 2003/ October.

Bálványos Anna, Citátum. Műértő 2003/ October.

Hornyik Sándor, Az elmélet allegóriái. Műértő 2003/ October.

Bogácsi Erzsébet, Tüntetők jelszavak nélkül. Népszabadság 2003/ October 15.

Korképek, Új Művészet 2003/ July.

P. Szűcs Júlianna, Túlélési lehetőségek. Népszabadság 2002/ March 9.

Selection of promising graduates of Dutch Art Academies meets Hungary. Art Primeur 2002.

Szervíz - Klíma - Külső szem. Új Művészet 2001/ September.

Erdősi Anikó, Kirepülők. Új Művészet 2001/ September.

Szemethy Imre, Kupcsik Adrián munkáiról. Mozgó Világ 2001/ February.

Berecz Ágnes, Személyes Panteon. Műértő 2001/ January.

Lázár Eszter, Rövid történetek. Balkon 2001.

Berecz Ágnes, Compact painting. Contemporary Hungarian Painters 2001.

Készman József, Rövid történetek, 2001.

Petrányi Zsolt, Csúcsforgalom, 2001.

Bakáts Tibor Settenkedő, Klíma, 2001.

Petrányi Zsolt, Milyen egy ezredvégi olajkép. Magyar kortárs festészeti kalendárium 2000.

Petrányi Zsolt, Áthallás, 2000.

Radák Eszter, Komoly és fiatal - Vissszaforgatott kép. Balkon 1999/ September.

Zólyom Franciska. Komoly és Fiatal 1999.

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GALL ERY

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C H I M E R A - P R O JE C T Ab out Us

The Chimera-Project is a program gallery, established in 2013 in Budapest. Our gallery program is built on curated, thematic exhibitions to generate a meaningful discourse in contemporary art around relevant artistic and social topics.

Through its founders, Chimera-Project has a strong international orientation: Patrick Urwyler is a Swiss art historian and curator and Bogi Mittich is a Hungarian sociologist. We worked in several art institutions in Berlin (Kunstraum Kreuzberg Bethanien), Budapest (Traf贸, Videospace, Studio Gallery for Young Artists Association) and Berne (University of the Arts, Department of Culture, Biennale Berne).

Based on our background our goal is to support international exchange. Our annual program consists of two interrelated sections of exhibitions: one section we realize in our own gallery space, showing local and international positions and the other abroad through various projects.

We built up an international exchange program, based on bilateral exhibition series, called Inter Art. We established an international award, the Chimera Art Award and this year we launch our international artist and curator residency program in Budapest.

Patrick Urwyler

Bogi Mittich

Director & Owner

Gallery Manager

+36 30 768 29 47

+36 30 682 32 79

patrick@chimera-project.com

bogi@chimera-project.com

www.chimera-project.com

www.chimera-project.com

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Edited & published Chimera-Project Gallery Klauzál tér 5.

H-1072 Budapest www.chimera-project.com © 2015 by Chimera-Project and Adrián Kupcsik