Tibor Nagy's paintings are the result of a persistent decision to depict moments of his life and his homeland, Slovakia, both realistically and abstractly.
Since Tibor started creating oil paintings, he discovered the mysterious space between what our physical senses convey and what we perceive emotionally. His paintings are true, personal confessions, where the emphasis lies in the emotional connection.
At the beginning of his artistic journey, his style was characterized by a combination of realism and abstraction. Later, in the 1980s, the style of his works began to lean towards surrealism, incorporating various techniques while continuing to explore his unique mode of expression.
In 2005, Tibor finally painted his first 'plein air' (French for painting outdoors) artwork. This was his first true connection with nature and oil painting, where he immediately saw the potential and his talent, despite the challenging artistic style involved. The 'Alla Prima' (Italian for "at once", meaning the first attempt) approach was incredibly appealing to him due to its directness, authenticity, and expressive power, but at the same time, it was a real challenge, as it required an uncompromising artist.
Why are landscapes so important to me?
When I observe the landscape, the first thing that happens is that it evokes a feeling or mood in me. This first thought is what interests me the most; capturing this vitality, momentum, and the variety and richness of the view, while naturally focusing on creating the emotional framework that is defining for me. This is often a very difficult task. Sometimes it's hard to control the internal impulses and motivations. At this point, I have to be brave, stepping out of my comfort zone, because once I do, a completely new direction begins. Since I don't solely rely on the knowledge I've accumulated over the years, I am constantly open to surprises. It’s like dancing on a knife’s edge. Sometimes I fail, other times I stumble upon entirely new, unexpected opportunities. I believe that this is the only way to grow. The transitional mindset halts, and instinctiveness takes its place. If I can maintain this fragile balance, then artistic creations are born.
Experience slowly teaches me to think about potential problems beforehand, before I even pick up the brush, so that I can trust my intuition and not overthink things. What is important to me is boldness, which allows us to leave the safe, albeit sometimes boring, path and the "stay alive" instinct behind.
I consciously strive to remain open to new opportunities and revolutionary methods, always aiming not to stay on the same level. This gives space for certain new, creative processes to emerge, which then move me forward…
