Gábor Arion Kudász was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1978
Photographer, associate professor at Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest
Arion's photographic work incorporates staged and fictional elements into documentary photography. He strongly believes that the artist's intention to tell the truth justifies his actions and that manipulation is necessary for a deeper understanding of truth within the image. Since 2000, Arion was interested in various topics related to human presence. Generally landscape oriented works dealt with urban development, environmental issues and tourism, until in 2010 triggered by a family tragedy, he took a sharp shift towards private histories and the workings of memory, and radicalized his approach to the image as document. Currently the interplay of human ambition and technology is in the focus of his work. He investigates the why and how an individual takes part in the larger actions of society.
He studied Photography at the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest, where he was offered a position following his diploma. He is teaching ever since, since 2013 in the Photography Master program and since 2017 in the Doctoral School. His works were acknowledged by several awards and scholarships, among them the Balogh Rudolf award of the Hungarian Republic in 2013, Robert Capa Grand Prize in 2015, the scholarhsip of the Hungarian Academy of the Arts in 2018. Arion offers workshops, exhibitions and regularly publishes limited edition artist books.
Arion is a father of three children. He lives in Budapest.
Selected Solo Shows
2022 Responsibility Check, Faur Zsófi Galéria, Budapest, HU / Indian Summer, Puhuri, Helsinki, FI / 2020 Workout - a fine sense of patriotism, Faur Zsófi Galéria, Budapest, HU / 2018 HUMAN, Faur Zsófi Galéria, Budapest, HU / 2017 Memorabilia, Belfast Exposed, Belfast, UK / 2016 HUMAN, FotoIstanbul, Istanbul, TR / HUMAN, Collegium Hungaricum, Paris, FR / HUMAN, Capa Center, Budapest, HU / Stranger in the landscape, Faur Zsófi Galéria, Budapest, HU / 2014 Memorabilia, Faur Zsófi Galéria, Budapest, HU / Memorabilia, Hungarian House of Photography, Budapest, HU / 2013 Tourists in Environment, Cortona on the Move, Cortona, IT / 2012 Middle, Faur Zsófi Galéria, Budapest, HU / Stranger in the Landscape - Obcy w krajobrazie, Collegium Hungaricum, Warsaw, PL / 2011 Ez mi!, Faur Zsófi Galéria, Budapest, HU / 2010 Bonsai-land, Nádor Galéria, Széchenyi tér, Pécs, HU / Bonsai-land, Sanat Limani, Istanbul, TR / 2009 Photographs, Vintage Galéria, Budapest, HU / Waste Union, Hungarian Cultural Centre, London, UK / Green Area, Fotofestiwal, Lódz, PL / 2008 After the Eden, Hungarian Cultural Centre, Prague, CZ / Green Area, Fiducia Galeria, Ostrava, CZ / Waste Union, Lumen Galéria, Budapest, HU / 2007 Under The Concrete, ZAK Gallery, Berlin, DE / 2006 Green Area, Lumen Galéria, Budapest, HU
Selected Group Shows
2020 Nyílt tér Artists's retreat Mezőszemere, Godot Galéria, Budapest / 2019 Bauhaus Contemporary, Collegium Hungaricum, Roma / 2018 [Enter] on a breaking point and necessity to change, Triennale der Photographie, Hamburg / 2017 The Way They See. An Overview of Hungarian Photography, National Museum, Warsaw / Transforming Spaces, Carte Scoperte Art Gallery, Milan / 2016 Képek és Pixelek, Műcsarnok, Budapest / Cities and (Velo)cities, De Markten, Brussels / 2015 Vakáció szimulátor, ICA - Kortárs Művészeti Intézet, Dunaújváros / Leopold Bloom Art Award, Új Budapest Galéria, Budapest / The Amber Road Show, Kaunas Photo Festival, Kaunas / Family Ties, Karton Galéria, Budapest / 2014 Le cocon familial, Institut Balassi, Collegium Hungaricum, Párizs / 2013 E Book Show, Southampton / Amber Road Show, FLUSS, Wolkersdorf / distURBANces, Musée National d’Histoire et d’Art, Luxembourg / Hungarian Photography in the New Millenium (2000–2013), National Gallery, Budapest / 2012 Animalicious, Faur Zsófi Galéria, Budapest / Sense of Place, BOZAR, Brussels / Landscapes Speak the Same Language, Hungarian Institute, Brussels / Távmérő, Kepes Intézet, Eger / Budapest Pozitive, Vetrinjski dvor, Maribor / D book show, Helsinki, Finland / Progresszív útkeresések, Magyar Fotográfiai Múzeum, Kecskemét / 2011 European Eyes on Japan, Vol 12., Tottori Prefectural Museum, Tottori / Budapest Positive, Hungarian House of Photography, Budapest / Lab East, V8 Gallery, Köln / Cities on the river, SVU Gallery, Bratislava / Cities on the river, MKM Magacin, Mraljevica Marka, Belgrade / Facing Forward, The Forward Thinking Museum, online / Einsichten. Ansichten., Hungarian Embassy, Berlin / 2010 Art Fanatics 2, Műcsarnok, Budapest / Felhőgyár - FFS, Hungarian House of Photography, Budapest / La Biennale Jeune Création Européenne, City Gallery, Bratislava / Rarely Seen Photographs - a Collection of the Hungarian Museum of Photography, Hungarian House of Photography, Budapest / Live Sync - Hungarian Art Forum, MOCA, Shanghai / Liberation Formula, Donumenta, Regensburg / Cities On The River, Városi Művészeti Múzeum, Győr / to loop, KunstBüroBerlin, Berlin / 2009 La Biennale Jeune Création Européenne, Montrouge / Expanded Realities, Pécsi Galéria, Pécs / Regardez-moi - I’m Back, Immanence, Paris / Urbanity - Twenty Years Later, City Gallery, Prague / The sunny side, Modern Hungarian Photography, Galeria Mlodzi, Fotofestiwal, Lodz / FIKA (Young Contemporary Positions), Zsolnay Factory, Pécs / K&H Bank collection, Ferenczi és Tsai Galéria, Budapest / I am back, Artbázis, Budapest / 2008 One Step Further - FFS, Month of Photography, Vam Design Center, Budapest / What’s Up?, Műcsarnok, Budapest / Transylvania Photography Awards, Budapest / MOMENTS, Media Center Lume, Helsinki / Pécsi József Scholarship, Hungarian House of Photography, Budapest / Stalking Utopia, Kortárs Művészeti Intézet, Dunaújváros / Zeitgenössische Fotokunst aus Ungarn, Neuer Berliner Kunstverein, Berlin / Photo50, London Art Fair, London / 2007 Gallery for wintertime, ZAK Gallery, Berlin / reGeneration, Alyce de Roulet Williamson Gallery, Pasadena / Múzsa, Körzőgyár, Budapest / Pécsi József Scholarship Awardees, Accademia d’Ungheria, Rome / Elek, Fabricius, Kudász, Vintage Galéria, Budapest / Nézőpont kérdése!, Metró Galéria, Budapest / Temporary, Karton Galéria, Budapest / 2006 Budapest Feeling, Month of Photography in Krakkow, Jagiellonian University, Krakow / 24 Minutes, Berlin Budapest Festival, Tűzraktér – Budapest, Berlin / ConZerve, Kortárs Építészeti Központ, Budapest / Triptichon, Jövő Háza, Budapest / reGeneration, Pingyao International Photography Festival, Pingyao / reGeneration, Aperture Gallery, New York / 2005 The Digital Print, Millenáris, Budapest / Balett, Westen City Center, Budapest / Hungarian Press Photo, MüPA, Budapest / reGeneration – 50 photographers of tomorrow, Musée de L’Elysée, Lausanne / reGeneration, Galleria Carla Sozzani, Milan / ARC, Budapest / 2004 Festmény eladó, Barabás Villa, Budapest / Dokumentum 6, Hungarian House of Photography, Budapest / Nem térkép e-táj, Millenáris, Budapest / Offline 2, Vízivárosi Galéria, Budapest / Székfoglaló, Ponton Galéria, Budapest / Morfomans, Monostori erőd, Komárom / 2003 Invitation, Fotocella, Budapest / Diploma, Millenáris, Budapest / 2002 Us and the Others, Goethe Institute, Budapest, Porto, Rotterdam
Awards, Nominations and Scholarships
2019-2021 Hungarian Academy of the Arts, MMKI Scholarship / 2016 Conscientious Portfolio Competition / 2015 Le Bal Award, coup du coeur / Leopold Bloom Art Award, finalist / Capa Grand Prize / Capa Scholarship / 2013 Balogh Rudolf Award / 2012 Rado Star Prize, finalist / Photobook Slam Berlin / 2011 Pécsi József Photography Scholarship / 2010 “Márciusi Ifjak” Award / Plat(t)form, Fotomuseum Winterthur participant / 2008 Transylvania Photography Awards / 2007 Pécsi József Photography Scholarship / MOME Doctoral Scholarship / 2006 Sittcomm Award finalist / 2005 Hungarian Press Photo / Pro Cultura Urbis, Budapest Photography Award / Epson Art Photo Award / 2004 Pécsi József Photography Scholarship / 2002 ARC Billboard Award / Us and the Others International Photo Competition / 2001 Hewlett-Packard Invision International Digital Photo Competition
Studies
2007-2016 Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, Doctoral School, HU / 2004 Choice mastercourse, Transatlantic Culture Exchange, Budapest, HU / 1998-2003 Hungarian University of Arts and Design, Budapest, HU / 2002 Athens School of Fine Arts, Athens, GR / 2000 Ioan Andreescu Academy of Visual Arts, Cluj, RO
Teaching, Lectures and Workshops
2013 to present, Lecturer, Photography MA, Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest, HU / 2022 Off Festival, Bratislava, SK / Conference on 21st Century Central and East European Photobooks, Riga Photography Biennial, Riga Art Space, Riga, LV / 2021 Strategy and Drifting?, MMA-MMKI Conference, Budapest, HU / 2019 International Week, FH Bielefeld, DE / 2018 Fototreff #24, Berlin, DE / 2016 Collegium Hungaricum, Berlin, DE / Belfast School of Art, Belfast, UK / 2008 International Summer School of Photography, Ludza, LV / 2007-2013 Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest, HU, Photography BA, Assistant Lecturer / 2003-2007 Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest, HU, Artist teacher
Curating and Boards
2022 Photography MA Diploma exhibition series (Roleplay, Metamorphosis, On Body and Soul, The Political Image, Sense of Place, Home at Last), Capa Center, Budapest, HU / Visszatér - Facing Each Other, Klauzál tér, Budapest, HU / Budapest of Péter Nádas Competition, Budapest, HU / ARC Competition, Budapest, HU / 2020 New Visegrad Photography, 2nd edition, HU / 2020 BredaPhoto, St Lukas preview, Brussels, BE / 2019 Thirtythree, Breda, NL / 2018 New Visegrad Photography, Budapest, HU / 2018 THIRTYTHREE, Capa Center, Budapest, HU / 2017 to present, Pécsi József Scholarship Jury, HU / 2015 Document.Copy.Forgery., FUGA, Budapest, HU / 2014 Persistence, Backlight Photo Festival, Tampere, FI / 2013 Schwabenzug, Collegium Hungaricum, Stuttgart, DE / 2012 XY - Human Dignity and the MOME Generation, Ludwig Múzeum, Budapest HU / 2011 Group Therapy - Young Hungarian Photography, Collegium Hungaricum, Warsaw, PL
Residencies
2021 Saari Residence, FI / 2019 Open Space, Mezőszemere, HU / Visiting artist, Hungarian Embassy, Hanoi, VN / 2017 MOME Field Trip, Sarajevo, BA / 2012 Artist House Gjutars, Vantaa, FL / 2010 European Eyes on Japan vol. 12, Eu-Japan Fest Committee, Tottori, JP / 1995 Youth For Understanding, Bellefontaine, Ohio, US
Works
Great Depression 2019-ongoing / Workout - a fine sense of patriotism 2018-2020 / Human 2014-2016 / Memorabilia 2010-2014 / Indian Summer 2012 / White Lies 2011 / Middle 2005-2011 / Bonsai Land 2010 / Waste Union 2007-2010 / Time Capsule 2007 / Tourists in Environment 2003-2008 / Green Area 2005-2006 / Camp 2004-2005 / Tranzit 2002-2003
Books
Workout - a fine sense of patriotism, 2020 / Human, 2018 / Memorabilia, 2014 / Middle, 2012 / Bonsai Land, 2011 / Kortárs Magyar Fotográfia No.6, 2010 / Camp, 2010 / Tábor, 2007 / Szabadnap, 2003
Interviews and Features
What would happen if... conversation with Emma and Gábor Arion Kudász (in Hungarian) on Punkt by Vera A. Fehér, 2022
Apa és lánya az összetartozás és elválás labirintusában (in Hungarian) on Index, 2022
Five questions(in Hungarian) on Punkt, 2021
Interview about HUMAN on Male Naklady (Small Editions) by Katarzina Zolich, 2020
Testavatás (in Hungarian) on Designisso by Ákos Schneider, 2020
Being immersed in the joint action (in Hungarian) on Index by János Fehér, 2020
The Conscience of Society (in Hungarian) interview on Punkt by Vera A Fehér, 2020
Completely different dimension (in Hungarian) interview on Tiszatáj by Róbert Lak, 2020
Codename: Falcon (in Hungarian) on ÚjMűvészet by György Cséka, 2020
The photobook is like a board game for the photo community (in Hungarian) interview on Designisso by Krisztina Cserépy, 2018
HUMAN book review on LensCulture by Cat Lachowskyj, 2018
Posthumanist Brickworks on Fotóművészet by Sándor Hornyik, 2018
Otto's Dream (in Hungarian) review on Kortarsonline by Zsófia Ványa, 2018
A Conversation with Gábor Arion Kudász Conscientious Photography Magazine by Jörg Colberg, 2017
Artist feature Der Greif, 2016
HUMAN on Splash & Grab by Max Ferguson, 2017
Gábor Arion Kudász on Aint-Bad by Anna Brody, 2016
On Middle on Juxtapoz by Linnie Cole, 2016
It's important, but not enough to take good pictures (in Hungarian) interview on Designisso by Ákos Schneider, 2016
On Bricks and Humans — Why the Invention of the Brick Was One of the Most Crucial for the Mankind profile on FotoRoom, 2015
Everyone gets the brick (in Hungarian) interview on Kultúra by Máté Bodor, 2015
On Memorabilia (in Polish) book review on Fotopolis by Marcin Grabowiecki, 2014
The workings of Memory artist-talk at the Association of Young Photographers, 2014
Diary of a middle class family on Index by Szabolcs Barakonyi, 2012
Wounded Landscapes (in Hungarian) on Revizoronline by Andrea Rádai, 2009
A photographer from tomorrow (in Hungarian) interview on Origo by Dániel Halász, 2007
Sometime, Somewhere, Somehow (in Hungarian) on Fotóművészet by Gábor Pfisztner, 2006