Local cult urban artist Budha Tomi’s pieces adorn both the walls of galleries and abandoned buildings alike. Angst riddled spray can jobs these are not; instead, paint and a variety of media are used to create iconic images synonymous with Budapest’s urban scene. He’s currently exhibiting a collection of work at the recently-opened Korcsma bookstore and gallery, and here’s what he had to say about what drives his urban imagery…
How do you prefer to term your art? Urban, street, graffiti, installation…?
I get my inspiration from urban spaces, and I make art in both galleries and public spaces using different mediums (drawing, spray-can, installation or video).
Could you describe the technique you use?
I use a lot of techniques, like making photos, videos, graphic-design, hand drawings or painting; it depends upon the medium I use.
What’s your favorite kind of space to work in?
My studio, abandoned spaces, catacombs…
Your work’s peopled by characters; how would you typically describe them, and are there any common themes?
My characters are born out of a mutation of letters, and they’re mainly imaginary people and animals. The great thing is they have three eyes.
Definitely surreal, there’s often a dark, somewhat violent element to the stories that seem to be told in your work. Could you speak a little about this, and are you aiming to make any particular comments?
I don’t agree, actually. When I’m drawing I’m affected by many things, my mood, the weather, my girlfriend, and so on. These influences form my characters’ style. If you see my drawings as dark or filled with violence, it’s just caused by the world’s bad things. My aim is to create something friendly and funny, because I’m out to see the world in a positive way.
Do you ever appear in your work?
Yes, sure! I’ve painted myself many times, like in my diploma work, in tiny graphics, and there was a video-work in collaboration with another artist. I was a bird in it; it was so cool.
Bird-like characters often feature. Is there a particular reason behind this, and does the motif represent anything?
You can transform letters from the shape of a bird, and there are a lot of letters which remind me of a bird.
Does anyone else’s work particularly inspire you?
I think there are a lot of people, but I can’t say anyone concrete.
How does Budapest inspire you and influence your work?
The atmosphere and people inspire me, as well as suburban spaces (in an architectural way: blocks, abandoned spaces, bomb-sites). I usually paint there or paint about them.
You’ve collaborated with the likes of Vans, Tisza, Eastpak and Coca-Cola. Your art’s related to an underground scene, but these are more mainstream. Do you see yourself as an underground or a mainstream artist?
I see myself as an underground person.
And do you have any plans for collaborations with brands coming up?
I collaborate with Printa. We have several projects at the moment and coming up in the future.
How do you think your style’s changed over the years?
I’ve always loved to draw characters; their style has changed a lot over the years, though, as they’ve been affected by many styles and will be continue to be affected, too. I’m curious about my characters’ style in five years’ time…
Has your work appeared in other countries?
Yes, recently I had some group and solo exhibitions abroad. Brussels, Paris, Berlin and Prague are the cities I’ve exhibited in lately, and my street pieces are on view in Turin, Ljubljana, Kosice and Subotica.
And where can people see your work in Budapest?
My artworks can be seen in Korcsma, Printa, Bartók 32 Gallery, Síp street 7. and abandoned places.
What kind of work is on display at this month’s exhibition at Korcsma?
They’re photos mixed with my characters which were originally made for a website of the Hungarian institute in Brussels. I made these pictures from week to week, and this is the first time you can see them printed on paper and hung on the wall.
What would you say are the most exciting things about the Hungarian art and design scenes at the moment?
In my opinion, it’s most exciting when fine arts, applied arts, fashion, and culture are all mixed in one place, because there you can meet a lot fantastic things like books, clothes, interior stuff and graphics, too. Printa’s a place like that.
Do you collaborate with other artists, and who would you like to work with?
Yes, I usually work in groups, and I exhibit a lot with others. András Tábori is the person I work with on many projects; we have the same ideas when it comes to many things. I hope I will work with many different people in the future, too; it’s so exciting.
A display of Budha Tomi’s work can currently be viewed (and bought) at the urban bookstore and gallery, Korcsma.
Korcsma – Bookgrocery
Open Mon.-Fri. 12 p.m.-7 p.m., Sat. 12 p.m.-4 p.m.
Tel.: +36.20.377.2334