Whitehall Park Road, 1999, BW silver gelatine print, variable sizes, edition of 1/15.
About
The subject matter of Renata Hegyi's work navigates various themes and disciplines, combining realism, symbolism, and figurative abstraction to explore perceptions of reality and its significance.
Hegyi is fascinated by the ways reality is shaped and enjoys examining different perspectives on the same topic. Her focus often returns to objects and spaces commonly found in daily life. The non-linear narratives and recurring motifs—such as bottles, tables, chairs, and journeys—reflect personal themes related to experiences and discoveries in rented accommodations. These close observations are reinterpreted as metaphors.
She incorporates magical elements into her straightforward realism using techniques such as shadows and reflections, as well as contrasts of extreme brightness and darkness. This results in imagery that blurs the meaning of her subjects, allowing for a double interpretation of her images.
Hegyi draws inspiration from a diverse range of art forms, with great literature and short stories significantly influencing the development of her ideas.
Parallel Disco, oil on canvas, 2024, 40 x 50 cm (16”x 20”).
Inner Circles, oil on canvas, 2024, 30 x 40 cm.
Monday night tango, 2024, oil on canvas, 30 x 40 cm.
Master Magician, Mr Woland, 2023. Drawing on Fabriano paper, 29 x 39cm. Part of the ‘At the Theatre’ series.
Geezas. Violence at the Goose, 2023. Pencil drawing on Hahlemuhler paper, 50 x 65cm.
Unfold, April 2020. Pencil drawing. Each drawing is 21 x 29cm.
Imaginary lines, Drawing, 2019.
Family portraits, Winey, Whisky and little Liqueur. Nov 2018, Pencil drawing. A4.
Fragment from ‘Brothers’ . Drawing, 2020.
CV
Solo Exhibitions
2022 - MOCA London, UK. ‘same-same, but different’.
2022 - Yellow Mansion, Dunajska Streda, SK.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2021 - Millimetre02 exhibition at Kingsgate Project Space, London. (19 Nov - 11 Dec 2021 )
2020 - MOCA London_WE Web exhibition in May ’20. @mocalondon_we
2018 Secret Charter Auction and Exhibition, Dulwich Picture house Gallery, London.
2015-2018 Nature Morte Touring Exhibition: Guildhall Art Gallery, London, UK, Sep. 2017 - April 2018. National Museum, The Four Dome Pavilion, Wrocław, Poland, Feb - May ’17. Konsthallen-Bohusläns Museum, Sweden, May - Aug’16. Hå Gamle Prestegard, June 15 – Apr 16, Norway.
2017 Moca at PIAF Art Fair, London.
2016 Drive Thru, Q Park, 13, Cavendish Sq. London.
2013 Clown Society, Fold Gallery, 15 Clerkenwell Close, London, EC1R 0AA.
2011 Night•Time•Day•Light, Millimetre @ House, 70 Camberwell Church St, London, SE5 8QZ, (with Martin Newth/ Cornford & Cross/ Finlay Taylor).
2010 Shaping Silence, Grey Area Gallery, Brighton BN1. Curated by Roy Exley. (with J.Albrecht, E. Attali, R. Chater, M. Docher, R. Exley, A S Hawes, A Lock, E McCabe, D Thomas).
2008 Borders & Identities, Stephen Lawrence Gallery, London SE10. Curated by David Waterworth. (with A Adil, M Petry, Ch Stewart, U Orlow, S Waked, N Fharid, O & F Turpin)
2007 Landscape photography, curated by Sacha Craddock, Sadler’s Wells, London EC1. (with Richard Billingham, Steffi Klenz, J. Koster, G. Hasler, Thomas J Cooper, S. Giovinco)
2006 Salon Connexions, Rivington Street Gallery, London EC2. (with F. Carlow, J C-Dyer, N. Fox, J Haysom, G Hemsworth, P Kane, M Lee, M Sato, D Smith, N Tait, M Thompson, J Willkins)
2006 Vienna Biennale, Wien.
2006 Flash Point, Gone Tomorrow Gallery. London E2 (with Ivan Jones).
2006 Wandering Rocks, Gimpel Fils, curated by David Waterworth, London W1K. (with M Chaimowicz & N Wallis, S Faithfull, A Gillam, J Kidness, G Miller, M Nelson, E Price, L Seers).
2005 Heat, MTV Studios- Hawley Crescent. London NW1
2004, Group Show, Practice - Art Project Space. Hackney E8
2004 Opening Show, The Royal Academy Schools Gallery, The Pumphouse, Hornsey. London N8 (cat)
2003 Graduate Show, Royal Academy Schools, London. Show travelling to Terrace Gallery, Harewood House. Yorkshire
2002 4 Colleges Show, AT Kearney. London
2002 Hungarian Cultural Center. London WC2
2002 5by5, Hirschl Gallery, Cork Street, London W1
2002 Premiums 2001, Sackler Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts. London W1 2001 7up, East73rd Gallery. London.
2001 Light Matters, Shine Gallery. London (cat)
2001 Archway to Angel, Sadler’s Wells, curated by Alister Warman, London.
2001 R1, (Channel 4) photographic competition. Photographers Gallery, London. Show travelling to Liverpool, Open Eye Gallery and Edinburgh, Stills Gallery.
Awards and residencies
2008 Arts Council Grant, Borders and Identities exhibition
2003-2004 St James Award and Residency, Royal Academy Schools Gallery, Pump House, Hornsey, London N8.
2002 Exchange Programme Residency, University of Pennsylvania, The Graduate School of Fine Art, Philadelphia, USA.
Publication
2013 - Nature Morte: Contemporary Artists Reinvigorate the Still Life Tradition by Michael Petry.
"In truth, however hard you try, you can never retrieve an experience in full. As a famous line by the ancient philosopher Heraclitus has it, you cannot step into the same river twice. Even if you return to the same spot on the bank, different water flows in upon you at every moment."
* 'How to live' SB, p33
Crossing Borders, Series. Train journey from Bratislava to Budapest. 2005-6. BW silver gelatine print.
Whitehall Park Road Series, 1999. My desk.
Sandringham Road, Series. 2004.
Wall, Balfron Towel, 2014- 15, silver gelatine prints. edition 1/15
‘same-same, but different’. Single circle unit, 2022. Reduction lino print.
Colour studies, Ochre yellow. 2020. 30x 30cm reduction lino print. Unique print.
Colour studies, Oriental Garden,. 2020. 30x 30cm reduction lino print. Unique print.
Nine circles, Etching. 2010. Edition of 1/20
Pyramid of seven levels, Etching. 2010. Edition of 1/20