Škuc Gallery, 3 September - 1 October 1999

The Ljubljana exhibition of Attila Csörgő (b. 1965) and Antal Lakner (b. 1966, both in Budapest) is a result of co-operation with Stúdió Galéria in Budapest, where in 1998 the artists first jointly presented their work at one of the exhibitions of the ťGallery by NightŤ series. Prior to that, both artists had already exhibited at important international art events. Attila Csörgő took part in the 1994 Sao Paulo Biennial, while at the moment, his work can be seen in the Hungarian pavilion of this year's Venice Biennial. Whereas Antal Lakner exhibited at the 1997 Istanbul Biennial. A common feature of their work lies in their seemingly scientific approach. Works by Attila Csörgő are of dynamic and kinetic nature. Nevertheless, his technical constructions resembling engineered devices are not without subtle humour and, at the same time, reveal a poetic dimension of variable (geometric) shapes. Csörgő's works are defined with simple visual procedures and basic forms which speak of the exciting mental density that can be found beyond the ťvisualŤ domain. Antal Lakner is an explorer of the ťcultural transferŤ within the sphere of ťstaged realityŤ. For example, through detailed documentation (and in co-operation with German artist Georg Winter), he presents the production of the authentic Hungarian UGAR cigar or sets out on the First Hungarian Expedition to Emmental in Switzerland, where among others he unveils his own cultural patterns. The humorous vein, also present in Lakner's work, connects both artists in a highly agreeable way which is after all attractive for the public, too. At the ALTERED STATES exhibition in the Škuc Gallery, the artists presents new work.

The project is supported by: City of Ljubljana - Department of Culture, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia, Cultural Link Project OSI - Slovenia & OSI - Hungary, Institute of Contemporary Art - Dunaújváros, Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in Ljubljana. Special thanks to Judit Harkány, Margit Valko, János Szoboszlai, Lívia Páldi, Róza El-Hassan and Barnabás Bencsik.