For Venezuelan artist Zeus Salas, who lived through hellish years of political carnage in Caracas and Buenos Aires, comparatively calm Budapest is now his gold mine of inspiration. For one thing, Népszínház, the street where he lives in his 8th district studio, is for him a source of amazement and diversity. “People think it’s a ghetto, but it’s been developing so long that I think it’s a misconception of the place.”
Though many of his newer works might reflect the odd-ball circus that is Blaha Lujza tér, his previous collections of canvases, though, are heightened by a haunting magic that comes from living in his native city, Caracas, as well as Buenos Aires, Argentina – two cities that have suffered considerable political strife.
As a result, his particular Art+Magic is an edgy blend of nativistic voodoo rituals and paintings that were born from witnessing violent street protests and the struggle to survive. “I remember there was one week in Venezuela, when there was [nothing but] death.”
Salas has been living and working in Hungary for 5 years, exhibiting his works at Art Market Budapest, Sziget Festival, Brody House, the Night of Artworks, in addition to many live painting performances.
His Népszínház community has offered him outdoor live painting events, art class visitations to inspire students, and opportunities to sell his works. Now, through the help of his local manager/agent Vivien Boronyák, his bountiful creative flow — “his own personal iconography” as she calls it — can be witnessed next month.
On August 7, at 19:00, his solo exhibition, titled ‘Before Me Tomorrow’ curated by Estefania Krauss, will be held in Bakáts Bunker. The exhibition, which will take place in the approximately 200 sqm space, will present a selection of the artist’s oeuvre, from his works created in Argentina to his latest pieces in Budapest, and will be accompanied by a series of events during Bakáts Fest.
- The exhibit runs through September 7.
- Address: Bakáts Bunker (underground): 1092 Budapest, Bakáts Tér 1