Klara Kuchta
KLARA KUCHTA
Born in Rožňava, Slovakia, 1941
Lives and works in Geneva
Klára Kuchta studied at the textile department of the University of Applied Arts in Budapest. After her graduation in 1968, the plasticity and three-dimensional potential of the sisal, the vegetal fibre she used for her large-format hangings or mural woven pieces, became central to her visual investigations. Kuchta took an active part in the formal renewal of textile art in the late sixties in Hungary, which allowed the medium to outgrow its traditionally decorative reception and to become a channel of abstract artistic expression that silently opposed the socialist realistic style propagated and favoured by the Hungarian aesthetical ideologies. Following her move to Geneva, Switzerland in 1971, she gained international recognition at the Biennale de la Tapisserie de Lausanne where she exhibited along with Denise Emery, Magdalena Abakamowicz and Jagoda Buic.Her practice took a conceptual turn in 1974 when she formulated her socio-economic Art Manifesto and initiated a ten-year cycle dedicated to the historical, cultural, gender-based, social and economic aspects of hair. Using it first as a raw material for woven pieces and paintings that marked the transition between her textile works and her conceptual period, Klára Kuchta gradually moved towards a socially critical approach of the hair through photo series, performances and video pieces, which also positioned her a pioneer of video art in Switzerland. Subsequently to this cycle, she started concentrating on light, shadow and reflection in mirrors – an item she used in her performances and videos as well –, a process of disembodiment in which she dissolved all traces of her physical presence and shifted her focus towards arts and science.
MEMBERSHIPS
International Kepes Society (Société International de Kepes), Light Symposium
Folyamat Társaság
Magyar Festők Társasága
Nemzetközi KárpitMűvészek Egyesülete
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019 Fibre Works, 1968-1973, acb Gallery, Budapest
2006 Genéve, MAMCO
2004 Budapest, Kiscell Museum - Municipal Gallery
2003 Genéve, Galerie R. Turetsky
1996 Genéve, Galerie R. Turetsky
Budapest, Vasarely Museum
Genéve, Centre de la photographie
1993 Genéve, Galerie FaustTuretsky
1992 Genéve, Galerie FaustTuretsky
Genéve, Galerie Faust
1987 Budapest, Ernst Museum
1986 Székesfehérvár, István Király Múzeum
1984 Bern, Kunstmuseum
1978 Bruxelles, Galerie Isy Brachot
1975 Genéve, Palais de l'Athénée
1972 Genéve, Palais de l'Athénée
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2018 Bookmarks - Revisiting Hungarian Art of the 1960s and 1970s, The Vinyl Factory Soho, London
2017 Genève, HAED, New Heads-Fondation BNP Paribas Art Awards,5ème édition
2016 Budapest, Szép 3 Galéria, Folyamat Tàrsaság
Ferrara, Palazzo dei Diamenti (Musée d'Art Moderne) Expos 1974-94
Eger, Kepes Institute
Budapest, Uj Budapest Galeria/Balna „Mehr Licht”
2015 Budapest,Kunsthalle/Mucsarnok, International Kepes Society,Light Symposium
the Geneva Cantonal Contemporary Art Fund (FCAC)
2014 Genève, Smoking Up Ambition, group exhibition commissioned by
2013 Genève,MAMCO,Collectionneurs de Genève,
Bruxelles,Institut Hongrois de Bruxelles
2011 Budapest, Budapest Galéria,Société International de Kepes
Bern, Kunstmuseum, ”Vice et volupté.Les septs péchés capitaux de Durer à Neuman.”
2010 Pécs,Művészetek Háza, Nemzetközi Kepes Tàrsosàg,Light Symposium
Toulouse,”Le Printemps de Septembre à Toulouse”, MAMCO,
2009 Dunaszerdahely,Kortars Magyar Galéria (G.sucasnych umelcov),Folyamat T.
Budapest, A22 Galeria, Société International de Kepes
2008 Luzern, Kunstmuseum „Schweizer Videokunst der 70er u 80er Jahre„(Vidéos/Années 70-80)
Budapest, MMA (Magyar Muvészti Akadémia), Light Symposium Kepes Tarsasag
Kecskemét,Varosi Képtar, Folyamat Tarsasag
Palma de Majorque,Musée des Beaux Arts,Collection AUER
Montpellier,Galerie de la Ville,Pavillon Populaire,”Regard!des enfants”
2007 Kosice(Kassa), Varosi Képtar , Nemzetkozi Kepes Tarsasag
Paris, Marne sur Seine, Collection AUER
2006 Paris, Institut Hongrois de Paris,Nemzetkozi Kepes Tarsasag
Miskolc Gallery Rakoczi haz, Folymat Tarsosag
Szombathely,Képtar,”Cicelle/Arany haromszog”
2005 Szombathely, Varosi Képtar,Folyamat Tarsasag
Budapest, Ujpest Galéria, Magyar Festok Tarsasaga,”Labyrintus”
2004 Genève, Musée d'histoire des sciences,”La nuit de la Science” Mesure du corps humain,L'oeil”
Pécs, Pécsi Galeria, „Continuité/ Folyamat Tarsasag
Budapest, Milleneum Park,International Symmetry Festival,”Science meets Arts”
2003 Eger, Light Symposium,Nemzetkozi Kepes Tarsasag
Galerie d'Art du Conseil Général des Bouches-du-Rhône (Collection AUER)
Aix-en-Province, „Regards de femmes – Femmes regardées”
Budapest, Vigado, „Histoires d'oeuf”, Collection AUER
Helsinki, Continuité/Folyamat Tarsosag
2002 Nyon, Galerie Focal
Sydney, 5.Congrès Internatonal ISIS, „Interact”
Eger, Light Symposium
2001 Bruxelles, International Art – Bruxelles
2000 Carouge, Musée de Carouge
1999 Montpellier,Galerie de la Ville,(Photographie)
Lyon, „VIV'Art LYON 98”
Budapest,Vigado, „Continuité/ Folyamat Tarsosag”
1998 Haifa, 4.Congrès International ,ISIS, „Order-Disorder”
Genève, Galerie R.Turetsky
Paris, FIAC
1997 Graz, Neue Galerie am Landesmuseum, „Jenseit”
Szombathely, 14.Fal és Tértextil Biennalé
Eger, Light Symposium,Nemzetkozi Kepes Tarsasag
1996 Budapest, Ludwig Muzeum,”Jenseit”
Genève,Galerie R.Turetsky
Washington, Art Center, 3.Congrès International,ISIS, ”Natural and Artificial”
1995 Budapest, Budapest Gallery (Lajos u)
Genève, Maison de St-Gervais
Lugano,Galerie Gothardo
1994 Szombathely,Fal és tértextil Biennalé
Genève,Centre de la photographie, Maison de St-Gervais
Budapest, 2.Congès International, ISIS, ”Ars(Dis)Symmetrica”
Genève,”Climat 93”,Parc de la Grange
1993 Genève,”Escale 4”, „Escale 5”
Bâtiment Pont de la Machine
1992 Genève,Galerie Faust
1991 Martigny, Manoir
1989 Budapest, National Gallery
1987 Genève,Palais Wilson,Centre d'Art Contemporain
1986 Genève,Studio Musique Contemporain, „Jupiter mon amour”
Genève,Manifestation /expo „Eléphantes”
1985 Genève,Musée Rath, „Infraction”
Bern, Kunstmuseum
Locarno,Vidéofestival
Genève,Centre d'Art Contemporain Vidéo Genève
1984 San Francisco,Twin Palms Gallery,”Arts as Presence”
Salerno,Vidéofestival „Spazio Vidéo 2”
Copenhagen,International Vidéo-Show
1983 Charleroi,Vidéofestival
1982 Budapest,Mücsarnok,Kunsthalle
Genève,Fondation Salle Patino
1981 Lisboa,Fondation Gulbenkian
Manchester,Withworth Gallery
Genève,Musée Rath
1980 Lausanne,Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts
München,Lenbachhaus Städtlische Galerie
Praha,Muzeum v Praze
Paris,Centre Georges Pompidou
Budapest, Museum of Ethnography
Ferrara,Palazzo del Diamanti
1979 Anvers,ICC,Musée d'Art Moderne
New-York,New-York University
Wien,Kunstlerhaus
1978 Venezia,Palazzo Grassi
1977 Zurich,Museum Bellerive
Boston,Art Center
1976 Lausanne,Biennale Suisse
1974 Szombathely,Fal és tértextil Biennalé
1973 Bruxelles,Salon Europe,Musée des Beaux-Arts
1972 Genève,Musée Rath