György Orbán – Diane Sophrin

PRESENT CONTINUOUS EXHIBITION / FOLYAMATOS JELEN KIÁLLÍTÁS

Diane Sophrin’s latest solo exhibition at the Open Workshop / Nyitott Műhely opened on April 13th and ran through May 15th.

A dense body of work created over the hard winter of 2017 – 2018, the Present Continuous / Folyamatos jelen series relies on poems written in tandem with the making of the visual pieces. The list of linked poems can be found here. For a detailed description of the entire project, including paintings and poems, click here.

The opening was a stimulating mix of Diane Sophrin’s visual work and verse, a musical performance by Tamás Baranyi, cofounder of world music band Anu Mauri, and a substantive and lively panel discussion between György Orbán, publisher and Ferenc Takács, literary historian.

The event began with Tamás performing his own compositions on the Persian Santur. Among them was a new piece written expressly for the exhibition using text of Sophrin’s verse Desperate Ones.

Poetry came next, with Diane reading two of her poems, which were then recited in Hungarian translation by György and Ferenc: Miracles / Csodak and Doubt / Kételkedni. The Párbeszéd or dialog between György and Ferenc followed, with participation from the audience.

My deepest appreciation goes to to Tamás, Gyuri and Feri for their positive support, gracious and creative participation in this event, as well as their generous feats of translation! Warm thanks to Kováts Albert, president of the Society of Hungarian Painters / Magyar Festők Társasága http://www.magyarfesteszet.hu/en, for his help in arranging this exhibit. Finally, I’d like to express my gratitude to Finta Laci, Director of the Open Workshop / Nyitott Műhely for his kindness and tremendous dedication to a wonderful creative and intellectual meeting place!

– Diane Sophrin. Budapest, April, 2018

DIANE SOPHRIN: NEW WORKS AND FREE ASSOCIATIONS
DIALOGS WITH ATTILA JÓZSEF

Diane Sophrin’s latest solo exhibition at the Ferencvárosi Historical Museum in Budapest, runs from September 14th through October 14, 2017. The opening ceremony took place on September 22nd.

This newest body of work is comprised of three interconnected projects: the Wetted Scrolls Series, Postcards from Attila József and Dialogs with Attila József. The latter two relate directly to the poetry of Attila József (József Attila in Hungarian name order) one of the most famous and beloved Hungarian poets of the 20th century. This poet, although not so familiar to the English speaking world, is astonishingly pertinent to our world today.

These works, along with my comments and the poems of Attila József ás well, can be found on this site here, and here. The image of each work is linked to it’s own page where the relevant poem can be read in English translation as well as the original Hungarian.

The opening lecture was presented by Dr. Ferenc Takács; critic, literary translator, literary historian, associate professor at ELTE’s Department of Anglo-Saxon Studies, and President of the James Joyce Society of Hungary. Video of lecture by Dr. Ferenc Takács.

György Orbán, founder of the Ráday Könyvesház Bookstore, publisher and littérateur gave a poetry reading (link here) of Attila József’s Breath of Air

Tamás Baranyi, cofounder of Budapest world music band Anu Mauri accompanied himself on keyboard, singing Attila József’s Oh Heart, Be Still and Qumashtra, one of his own compositions.