Birth of a Symbol? A painting by Nora Soos entitled Urban Golfer.
Within a subculture, aside from having common activities, it is essential to express joint values through symbols. The transformation of a piece of art to a symbol surely takes a lot of time, but I think that the first art pieces to have done so are most important because they simultaneously pave the way and serve as anchors for the next generation of creators. Symbols often come from inside a group, but it’s particularly interesting when two different cultural scenes collide and the result strengthens both communities.
Our community has been enriched by such an encounter: a painting named Urban Golfer 2015, made by Nora Soos recently, is the first piece of art which reflects on the Hungarian urban golf movement. Nora is not herself involved in the Hungarian urban golf scene, but this painting proves that a barrier has been broken and she has been touched by its values. Hungarian urban golf has had an effect on a much broader scale than we had previously thought.
For a deeper understanding of the painting, we will discuss with Nora Soos – the best source for further explanation.
Soós Nóra
I am Nora Soos, a painter. I have been painting for over 20 years now and I do it for a living. The main idea of my painting is transparency. In Eastern Europe, the political elite are always avoiding any possibility of transparency because of the closed models of power. For me, painting is freedom, freedom is democracy and transparency is painting.
I think urban golf is a super social and grassroots initiative. It somewhat reminds me of one of my favorite radio stations, free and independent Radio Tilos, in that they are both communal and open. This exciting social drive inspired my Urban Golfer painting. In the picture, beside the golfer figurine appears the classic, social-era favorite “Kejfel Juliska” figurines. For me, these figurines together represent the integration of the remembrance culture and painting expression – which I often use. The memorial pictures of the past and present make riddles by floating layers or telling stories about our common questions/problems. The creation of communicational space allows for the possibility for dialogues that influence society emotionally and sociologically and could lead to a deeper understanding of our common past and a more sensitive reception of our present diffuseness. If I can help this process forward with my paintings, it would be a great pleasure for me.
Urban golf is a good game and the players find happiness in it and I intended to capture this playfulness in my painting too. If the observers of my work feel like they’re inspired towards togetherness, I will feel as though I have accomplished my goal.
I would like to say thanks to Nora for this exceptional piece of art. I wish that this painting could be a genuine symbol of the Hungarian urban golf community.
You can check out more of Nora Soos artwork on her website www.soosnora.hu and on her official Facebook page.