Hungarian contemporary artist Balazs Botos, is known for his one of a kind design pieces and wearable art. He working with ceramics and porcelain to reflect on his inner thoughts and surroundings using a dash of playfulness that make for his unique style.
I see and use the material differently from others, but always with respect, devotion and some humour.
Contemporary artist Balazs Botos
Rocky ring. One of a kind design pieces and wearable art. Contemporary artist Balazs Botos.
Take us to the beginning of your story. How did your tryst with art begin?
I originally graduated as an industrial designer at the University of West Hungary. It was love at first sight when I worked with porcelain as a material. This was at the International Ceramic Studio, Kecskemét in my second year. The beauty of the process, the complexity of the technique and the material itself amazed me. That was the starting point.
After graduation I was lucky because I could go back to work in that studio in Kecskemét. That was a very exciting part of my life. I learnt a lot and I met some very good people who work in the industry. I took part in a design symposium for a month too, then. That was the point when I felt there’s no going back and that I had to continue to understand and use porcelain.
Rocky vase. One of a kind design pieces. Contemporary artist Balazs Botos.
What is the primary role of an artist? How do you describe yourself in the context of challenging people’s perspectives via your work and art?
I’ll always be an outsider because of my qualification since I’m not a graduated ceramic artist, but these days I’m accepted, so I’m happy about that right now. I see and use the material differently from others, but always with respect, devotion and some humour. It can be a very good feeling. If I create work with some trick in them, it motivates the user to discover something else than that’s in their hands. These objects become more personal and we feel the connection sooner between the object and us. I try to work that way every time.
Mix. One of a kind design pieces and wearable art. Contemporary artist Balazs Botos.
How do you deal with the conceptual difficulty and uncertainty of creating work?
It is always hard to deal with the uncertainty. We have to work to earn money, but we have to have money to work. It’s like a vicious circle. But I always thought that my objects have to be consistently persistent and unique even if I earn less sometimes. That can be very difficult for me, but my loyalty to ceramics is permanent.
Rocky ring. One of a kind design pieces and wearable art. Contemporary artist Balazs Botos.
Let’s talk about your frameworks, references and process. What inspires you?
I love traveling, for one. To see how can this industry works in other countries, to see how people deal with the conditions around them. To feel what they feel, to see what they see. The atmosphere is a very important part of that, the local architecture, local foods, local habits. Their lives give form to their objects and that is the beauty of it.
Rocky vase. One of a kind design pieces. Contemporary artist Balazs Botos.
How do you balance art and life?
It’s very hard to keep a balance between art and life. Even my close friends hardly understand the meaning of being a freelance designer. Usually they say: “Sure, you can work when you want and you can do what you like, don’t you?” Of course, that is true, but that is also the hard part of it. To schedule my days because I don’t have a job with fixed timings. I don’t have holidays, I can’t plan my days.
I have the right to say I’m finished with a particular project, but this can get difficult as one always wants to keep doing better. To know when I’m done, is something that I had to teach myself. We have to be devoted, but this can also lead to misunderstandings sometimes. I have less time for my surroundings or do not have the time for my friends when they would like to have me around, because I am a freelancer.
Rocky vase. One of a kind design pieces. Contemporary artist Balazs Botos.
What was your first sale? Do you handle the commercials yourself or is it outsourced to a gallery/agents?
I don’t really remember my first sale… but I think it was a ceramic whirling top. Yes, I handle my commercials myself, but I also take my jewellery and homeware to shops and fairs. That combination works in Hungary.
Artists often experience contradicting motivations (commercial v/s creative). How do you strike a balance?
I think I’m very lucky because I have a pure and recognisable style (if I can say that), so if someone asks me to design or create something, I can do what I like and what I feel. They ask me to do so because they love my creations.
Hungarian contemporary artist Balazs Botos. Picture by Bodnar David.
How does your audience interact and react to the work you put out into the world? What is that one thing you wished people would ask you but never do?
Sometimes people think I make my jewellery from rubber because of the matte effect, but when they realize it is porcelain, they’re afraid to touch them. But we always get everyone to do it. In the end they always have a smile on their face. This is a very good feeling for me. That’s my big success, when I see people smile.
I ask people about their first impression when they see my work. I see their faces, but I’m curious about their words too. Of how they feel when they look at them.
Bluerings. One of a kind design pieces and wearable art. Contemporary artist Balazs Botos
What are you working on now? What’s coming next season?
I am working on my own online shop right now that I hope to complete as soon as possible.
Before you go – you might like to browse our Artist Interviews. Interviews of artists and outliers on how to be an artist. Contemporary artists on the source of their creative inspiration.