Istvan Virag
(He/him)
Address: Atelierfellesskap: Bjørka, Schweigaardsgate 34D, 0191 Oslo
Floor: 3
The studio is open Saturday 27 April from 12-17
Working interdisciplinary, Istvan Virag’s artistic practice concerns the social and economic aspects of globalisation, industrial development and mobility – and the impact of these on society and the personal, private sphere of human life. His latest works explore alternative theories of economics (i.e. ecological economy and post-growth) as opposed to the material, environmental, social and psychological implications of the dominant neoliberal paradigm and the myth of limitless economic growth. Themes such as shifting economic power structures, industrial and urban development, (light)pollution, data-colonialism and the impact of information and communications technology on human nature have lately been central topics of his artistic practice. Virag received his BFA from the Academy of Fine Art at the Oslo Academy of the Arts. In addition to his own practice he is also a member of the artist group Infopsin, together with Ignas Krunglevičius, Ayatgali Tuleubek and Ragnhild Aamås.
Photo, video, installation
Pixel Pitch vol.4 (2023), video (14 min 50 sec), LED screen (P12), 230 x 230 cm
Pixel Pitch vol.4 (2023), installation view, New Visions - Henie Onstad Triennial for Photography and New Media (2023)
Pixel Pitch vol.4 (2023), video (14 min 50 sec), LED screen (P12), 230 x 230 cm
Yujiapu Towers #7, 2017, giclée print, 90x60 cm
https://vimeo.com/785445887
Planned projects and exhibitions
2024. (upcoming group exhibition) KUBE / Viti, Ålesund, Norway
2024. (upcoming solo exhibition) Fotogalleri Vasli Souza, Oslo
2024. (upcoming group exhibition) Oslo Negativ Photofestival, Oslo
CV
Born in 1982 (Hungary), lives and works in Oslo
EDUCATION
2013-16. Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Norway)
2015-15. School of Visual Arts, New York, exchange program (USA)
2009-09. Bilder Nordic School of Photography (Norway)
2004-06. University of Pecs – MSc in Economics (Hungary)
2000-04. Budapest Business School – BSc in Economics (Hungary)
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2021. Yujiapu Dream, Oslo Negativ / Podium, Det Gamle Biblioteket, Oslo
2019. Hypnagogic hues, white skies and other proxies, Podium, Oslo
2015. Herein is True and Accurate, White Box Gallery, KHIO, Oslo National Academy of the Arts
2015. Uncharted Territories, Portner Galleri, KHIO, Oslo National Academy of the Arts
2015. Both are likey this time, School of Visual Arts, SVA, New York
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023. Coast Contemporary, Museum Nord, Lofotakvariet, Kabelvåg, Norway
2023. New Visions – The Henie Onstad Triennial for Photography and New Media, Henie Onstad Art Center, Oslo
2023. DEMO, Oslo Negativ / Bjørka, Den Gamle Veterinærhøgskolen, Oslo
2023. Landart 2023, Gjerdrum, Norway
2022. You Don`t Look Me in the Eyes, Oslo Negativ / Bjørka, Det Gamle Biblioteket, Oslo
2022. Oslo Open Art Festival, open studio and guided tour at Bjørka, Oslo
2021. Infopsin: ECHOPRAXIA, Gallery 1986 / Swallow, Vilnius
2021. The Mountain Body – Norangsdalen by Helle Siljeholm, Høstscena, Ålesund
2021. Image may contain: hill station, sky and outdoor, Greenlightdistrict 2021, Skiens Kunstforening
2021. The Mountain Body – Kolsås by Helle Siljeholm, MUNCH, Oslo
2021. Infopsin: AWWWD, Kunsthall Oslo
2020. The Mountain Body – Skjonghelleren by Helle Siljeholm, Høstscena, Ålesund
2020. Market Logic, Studio 17, Stavanger
2020. Om å bøye virkeligheten, Bærum Kunsthall, Fornebu
2019. Oslo Open Art Festival, open studio and guided tour at Bjørka, Oslo
2018. Høstutstillingen 2018, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo
2017. Screengrab, Akademirommet, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo
2017. Oslo Open Art Festival, open studio and guided tour at Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo
2016. Avgangsutstilling 2016, BFA, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Oslo
2016. Cosmic Glitch, Rogaland Kunstsenter, Stavanger
2015. Keeper, Tapper, Poker, Bot, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Skylight, Oslo
2015. Let`s Wait For the Group, Chambre d`Amis, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Vienna
2015. Inter
2015. Site/specific, School of Visual Arts, New York
2015. Generation 80s, Month of Photography 2015, Balassi Institute, Sofia
2014. Images of Memory, Nida Art Colony, Nida
2014. Bjørka 15 år, Jubileumsutstilling, Oslo Prosjektrom, Oslo
2014. Fire from the North (workshop & exhibition), Vardø Museet, Vardø
2014. -, Akademirommet, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo
2014. PI Laboratory, Akademirommet, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo
2013. OSLO Bydeler, Galleri Vulkan, Oslo
2012. Generation 80s, Photo Month 2012, ArtBazis, Budapest
2012. Reality-Fiction, ArtBazis, Budapest
GRANTS
2023. Artist grant (5 years, Arts Council Norway / Kulturrådet)
2022. Project support (Norwegian Photographic Fund / NOFOFO)
2022. Project support (Norwegian Visual Artists’ Fund / BKV)
2021. Artist grant (2 years, Arts Council Norway / Kulturrådet)
2021. Project support (Arts Council Norway / Kulturrådet)
2021. Project support (Norwegian Visual Artists’ Fund / BKV)
2020.Artist grant (1 year, Norwegian Visual Artists’ Fund / BKV)
2020. Project support (Arts Council Norway / Kulturrådet)
2020. Project support (Norwegian Visual Artists’ Fund / BKV)
2019. Project support (Norwegian Visual Artists’ Fund / BKV)
2019-21. Artist assistant grant in collaboration with Marte Aas (Arts Council Norway / Kulturrådet)
2016. Studio Grant at Kunstnernes Hus (Fondet for Kunst- og Designstudenter / FKDS)
2017. Miscellaneous grant for recently graduated artists (Arts Council Norway / Kulturrådet)