Interview
Flora O. Hartyandi
Flora is from Hungary. She is an artist, art therapist and a community worker, as well as an Art and Sociotherapy Group Leader.
Flora studied hand-drawn animation at MARA, Pannonia Film Studio in Hungary, and textile and weaving art at Gyoer Dance and Fine Arts High School.
Through her art, Flora tries to create complex, alternative worlds that the viewer inevitably becomes a part of. They cannot be able to remain an outsider, but need to immerse themselves in these worlds — see them, feel them, discover, create a story around what they see, and most of all, use their imagination.
Flora has shown her work through a number of group and solo exhibitions.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I grew up in an open-minded, globetrotting culture and art-loving family. It would fit perfectly with today's trends: free jazz musicians, performance artists, experimental filmmakers, all from different nations and sexualities. I was a weirdo child because while others were excited about the blindness of Esmeralda, I was able to improvise on instrument, exhibit my drawings or present my new puppet show.
I spent a lot of time with my incredibly active grandparents. They were doing something all day long: gardening, cooking, baking, tinkering, sewing, embroidering. I was interested in all of these activities, and they were ready to teach me everything with no concern for time.
Later on, I started coming up with my own ideas and projects. Even though I set the bar quite high for myself, my family has never told me, ‘You can’t do this. You are too small for this. You shouldn’t try to do this.’ Instead, they supported me all the time.
I was around 6 when I wove a whole haversack from tiny pearls by myself. I designed different scenes in 3 centimeter-long lines like a cartoon. I sewed padding and hand spun the strap.”
What inspires you most?
“First of all, the present inspires me — the world that surrounds me, the people who surround me. I’m interested in human psychology. I have an art and socio therapy group leader degree, as well as different types of art qualifications.
Secondly, I’m inspired by nature. I’m impressed by the beauty, power and purity of nature.
I’m also inspired by fantasy and the different ancient cultures — their symbols and belief systems. Originally, Hungarians were a wandering nation who believed in supernatural magic. We still have a strong cultural connection to herbal healing. Today, we know fully well that the patterns on everyday objects and textile products weren’t just aesthetic. Each one of them had a very specific meaning. This way of thinking fascinated me even as a small child.
Our biggest adventure was when we travelled by car to a film festival in Africa from Hungary. I was ten. The African world totally enchanted me. I was envious that their ancient culture was, and still is, a part of their everyday life. A couple of years later, I visited Uyghurs’ land in China, and the Asian part of Turkey. I experienced something similar in these places. I have also found that the UK is very strong in local stories, legends and wonders of nature.”
“I’ve started using broken, damaged household things to build new worlds. I would like to represent the little hackneyed fact that it is possible to transform a bad situation into something good. The Parallel World series is my answer, my version of the present.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I believe that my respect for nature and my no-waste approach appear indirectly as a message through my creations.
We humans like to think we are living in a different, higher level in the world compared to nature and animals, and that’s a big mistake. We are animals as well, and nature with the whole earth is much stronger than human beings. To live with the Earth, we need more humility, belief, and love - and not the hippy-style love. I’m not a loud activist, but a relaxed artist with sarcastic humor. I want to represent my point of view in my artworks.
Recently, I’ve been working on my Parallel World Project. This is inspired by COVID-19 and booming social sites. People's focus is changing, and their daily behavior is being transformed. For instance, being alone is not a lonely thing anymore; it has become a safe, clever, responsible lifestyle. I find it very exciting on one hand, and scary on the other. I feel like an outsider more and more often, and I know I’m not the only one. We need to redefine ourselves and our faith, and redraw our borders.
As can be seen in my current work, my everyday life’s experiences fuel my artistic research. What is the point of talking about something, even through my art, if I have no clue or experience of it?
My partner and I are travelers. We’ve been living in a new society and new life-situations during our travels. My partner is a big existential thinker. We have talked a lot about the function and driving forces of the given people. We watch ourselves, too. We try to understand human nature. We wonder who does what, and why is it important? Is it the right way to live? When I feel I, or we have found a question, truth, solution which affects many people, I incorporate it in my art.”
How would you describe your work?
“I have an old-fashioned soul, like a strange grandma with a touch of dementia. A grandma who loves to weave, crochet, embroider, garden, but who just forgets to use the correct materials for these activities. Weaving a bag from wire? Why not? I love collecting damaged stuff just because it will be good for something.
I love to give new life to nature’s ‘waste’, and to human ‘waste’ as well. In that new life, there is something very different, like a rebirth. The world that surrounds me is my playground, without technique borders.
During these times when everybody is trying to be in the online world and the real world at the same time, where people give themselves just 3 seconds to decide if a picture is good or bad, it’s not easy to get the viewers to really see what is in front of their noses at an exhibition. So I try to create complex, alternative worlds that the viewer inevitably becomes a part of.
To increase this effect, I made a soundtrack for ‘The End of the World Project’. I named myself DJ Sheep and recorded several sheep baas, blowing wind sounds, and twittering of birds during our travels. Then I edited a dynamic atmosphere noise music from them. People lift their eyes from their phones when they first hear the unexpected sound of a sheep bleating when they arrive. It’s a funny moment. I love to see their faces when they arrive and they let in the first impression of my world.”
Which artists influence you most?
“Good art does not hide the dark side of life, but it helps to laugh, surprise and enchant. Nowadays I watch Aki Kaurismäki films, listen to Mike Patton and read Fredrik Backman.”
What is your creative process like?
“I love it if something has a past life and I can give it a new chance to live longer in a new function. I also like to cook using leftovers. Why do we want to throw out everything which we do not need right now?
In spite of my huge stock, I always start a new art piece from a freshly discovered thing. I notice something and I know immediately what I want to make from it. So every artwork is based a little bit on the present. It captures that particular moment.
I try to smuggle humor, playfulness and hanky-panky into my creations. To achieve this, the best method for me is to use unusual materials. So if someone forgets that a work of art is a physical artifact, they will miss these gags and they won’t have a chance to find their own interpretation of what is seen. That would be a shame!”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Ask. Suggest answers. Start a fantasy. Give security, caress or flick your head.
How many different types of mental problems are there? How many people have problems with unexpected changes which they do not see the end of? What could help us get through such a situation? Our imagination. It will help fill our new restricted living space with magic!
We are afraid a lot. Artists can help to transform our fears with their art. However, if our imagination can produce such a dramatic reality, then it certainly can create something like paradise or heaven.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“My partner and I had an exhibition in the 8. Neustadt Art Festival, Dresden, Germany towards the end of 2019, just before Covid-19 struck. It was a 3-day opportunity to be there with your art and answer any questions. We moved to Dresden 2 months before the festival, so we were very new to the city. This event was so friendly. Easy to join, easy to be there, have fun, get a lot of interesting chitchat and feedback. I have never felt so close to my audience. I can recommend it to anyone. You can read more about Dresden Exhibitions here.”
