We are very excited about our current interview because we wanted to showcase an artist who, with their unique style and sensitive themes, has garnered a huge fan base. They actively participate in numerous creative projects and serve as an absolute role model for young artists. They discovered their talent and paved their own path at a very young age. Currently, they work as a pattern designer at Fundango sportswear brand. In addition, they have designed scarves for the VYF brand and graphics for the Honest Toil olive brand. As a member of the Figu Design studio, they also contributed to the branding of the 2020-21 Colorado Festival and Kabin. We had a conversation with Enikő Katalin Eged.
What is your liveliest memory from your childhood?
EEK: Fortunately, I remember a lot of things, even tiny details. Amidst numerous family memories involving cats, dogs, and horses, one thing that stands out is my fascination with colors, clothing patterns, and furniture. For instance, even before I turned 5, I remember a lot of T-shirt patterns, curtains, seat covers, and such.
If you could choose any superpower, what would it be?
EEK: To be able to get by with only 2-3 hours of sleep a day.
Which living or deceased author would you like to meet?
EEK: Irene Solá - her second novel was recently translated into Hungarian, and I'm currently reading it. 'I Sing and the Mountain Dances' is one of my favorite books.
Photo credit: Kovács Dávid, OAT AVA
Which project are you most proud of?
EEK: I don't want to single out one. All the illustrative and pattern design collaborations this year were very dear to my heart. It was a joy to be part of so many fantastic projects.
Enikő designed scarves, for example, for the VYF brand, and graphics for the Honest Toil olive brand, as well as for the OAT AVA organic cotton knitwear brand.
Enikő's project titled 'Azzurro Velluto' is an extraordinarily successful initiative aimed at promoting social awareness, with a particular focus on the liberating representation of the LGBTQ community. In addition to its aesthetic wonders, the project has garnered praise for its impact. In an interview with WMN magazine, Enikő shared, 'Many people have written to me, saying that the artwork they purchased from me was the first step in their coming out journey when they displayed it in their homes.'
Who were the masters, visual artists, and graphic designers who had the greatest influence on you, and why?
It's difficult to pick just a few names—Ilona Keserű, Judit Riegl, Frida Kahlo, and the avant-garde movements of the early 20th century, along with folk motifs and the dotted horse cave paintings of Pech Merle. The mood, atmosphere, the interchangeability between abstract procedures, and the figurative and abstract forms are the most important aspects that make these artists and their bodies of work significant to me.
Nature and the animal world are the most important sources of inspiration for your paintings. How did this develop for you, and what do they mean to you in your home, daily life, and on a symbolic level?
They represent security for me, mental security—the dogs, cats:) it's good to be in their presence. I am intrigued by how I can abstract the horses, cats, what emotions can be conveyed through them; this, in a way, involves personalization as well as abstraction. I don't know how it developed; I think I was simply born this way. "I seek a sense of home and positive atmospheres; I believe this is the main concept in my art. If I were to pursue a doctoral degree, I would delve into the aesthetics of this. I am very interested in understanding what it takes for an image to resonate with many people," as stated in the article from WMN magazine.
You can purchase the wonderful prints of Eged Enikő Katalin here!
