Asztrid Csatlós: “Everything dies, everything blossoms again”

Installation + participatory performance

Asztrid Csatlós’ performative collective event invites participation not only as a spectator but as an active participant in the activation of her exhibited installation. As part of her ongoing project since 2021, she regularly traverses the transit routes around Szeged, where, since 2015, thousands have been forced to flee from war and crisis, collecting objects found along these paths. These abandoned items—family photographs left behind, discarded belongings, burnt-out vehicles—form the foundation of her works, which can often be approached as distinctive contemporary landscapes. Her practice gives shape to the collective experience of displacement, foreignness, and homelessness—key aspects of our contemporary condition.

The performance and the collective discussion are built around a selection of texts gathered over the years, reflecting both literal and symbolic aspects of flight, displacement, and belonging, on both an individual and communal level. The event also involves the activation and collaborative expansion of the installation, fostering a shared experience of engagement and reflection. 

Installation: “Everything dies, everything blossoms again”

Since 2021, I have been researching the transit routes of the endless dirt roads around Szeged, which serve as both escape routes and coping strategies, carrying parallel human stories. During my walks, I process my own experiences and anxieties along the same paths where, since 2015, thousands of people have been forced to flee from war and crisis. The objects found along these roads—abandoned family photographs, discarded belongings, burnt-out vehicles—gradually enter into symbiosis with their surroundings through the passage of time and the forces of nature, while also reflecting the stories of refugees and our own lives.

Perhaps they reveal to us that the path through the fog always leads to light, that confusion can give way to clarity, and that these dirt roads, too, invite us to pause and reflect, even if just for a moment.

My current projects focus on exploring the complex emotions surrounding the fear of the unknown. Throughout human history, the unknown has been perceived both as a threat and as an opportunity. Today, our fears—whether of nature or of one another—have led to the development of defensive systems that treat the unknown as an enemy. This project seeks to initiate a dialogue on how we might rethink our relationship with the unknown and the “other,” while also exploring the idea that confronting the unknown may be the key to transformation and self-understanding.

About the artist

Csatlós Asztrid (b. 1992), a Hungarian artist primarily working in painting. She earned her Master’s degree from the University of Pécs Faculty of Visual Arts, Hungary, in 2020, where she studied under the guidance of András Ernszt.

She have showcased her work in numerous solo and group exhibitions across Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. This year, She held solo exhibitions at ISBN book+gallery (I shall now count from one to ten. I say one…). She has also participated in many group exhibitions, such as (Lament, AQB), (Bad Dreams, Torula), and ( I do not understand, I can see, I know…, Kunsthalle Brastislava). Her paintings are featured in various private collections, reflecting the broad recognition of her creative vision. Csatlós’ work has been acknowledged with several prestigious awards and scholarships. Last year,  she was shortlisted for the STRABAG Art Award. Additionally, she have received the Ernő Tolvaly Art Prize, the Ildikó Kriszbacher Scholarship, and the Fundamenta Amadeus Art Prize.

Currently, she lives and work in Szeged (Hungary), where she remaina an active and dynamic presence in the contemporary art scene.

“At the core of my creative philosophy is the intricate balance between visual arts and natural science. My focus extends to exploring the intricate correlations within the present, past, and future, as well as the captivating parallels of fictions and utopias.

My ongoing visual exploration revolves around the dynamic relationship between the painted image and space, where creation transcends mere objecthood to assert its legitimate independence. The presence in my works unfolds within an expansive and compelling space. Expressiveness defines much of my artistry, as I seamlessly blend interdisciplinary elements with classical painting, often framing my paintings within installations that craft intricate environments beyond the confines of the pictorial surface.

To enrich the atmosphere of my installations, I extend into sound and video installations, seeking to blur and dismantle boundaries, materials, and creative dead ends. My artistic practice embraces the juxtaposition of opposing materials—soft textiles against unyielding metal—in a deliberate dance between the inorganic and organic realms. The selection of materials is a conscious choice, leaning towards recycling or biodegradable components.

Beyond my commitment to art historical exploration, my emphasis lies in the reinterpretation of painting techniques. The central theme in my artistic narratives revolves around our conceivable future and its imaginative possibilities, communicated through a multidisciplinary expression.”

https://www.astridcsatlos.com/

The event is held in English and is the outcome of a residency at A4 as part of the VARP programme supported by the International Visegrad Fund. Public funding was supported by the Slovak Arts Council and the Bratislava City Foundation.