Mai Manó Gallery („Kis Manó”)

The FotóFalu (PhotoVillage) Foundation, whose partner in their summer artist camp was the Hungarian House of Photography – Mai Manó House, put out a call for a national photography competition in 2009, entitled “Everything but the City”, and the winner was Ági Vedres. First Prize of the competition was the possibility for a solo exhibition, now presented in the Mai Manó Gallery. The selection entitled Hey, Boys! contains all new material, produced by the photographer for the present exhibition.

“No one is concerned with the boys.” – Ági Vedres

Well, sure, it’s not exactly like that, but still. Somehow it’s true that the boys – or men – never get the distinguished role, be it in literature, in the fine arts, in the media, or even in daily life. Everything is advertised by women – everything, everywhere, whatever possible.

Of course, what interests men is women, but what interests Ági Vedres is just the opposite. She is interested in everything that happens with them, and first and foremost in that about which she knows nothing, and which remains hidden or becomes visible only on rare occasions. And this is why she follows them everywhere, tries to become invisible for a time, and then becomes visible so that they can only realise by chance, for just a moment, but by then she has already long finished photographing them.

The exhibition of Ági Vedres, entitled Hey, Boys!, is about guys living in Hungary, in 2010. Those who exist consciously and unconsciously, just hanging around, loafing about, serious, wild or gentle, macho or effeminate, hedonistic, taking the straight path, mischievous, Momma’s boys, muscular or skinny geeks, tattooed or smooth-skinned, hip-hoppers, rappers, skateboarders or serious musicians, junkies and clean, studs or stay-at-home types, bookish or illiterates, rich or broke deadbeats, creative types or those without an idea in their head.

Each one of them is lovable, for some reason or another; in each there is the possibility in life; nevertheless, every one of them will change over time, and perhaps, the weak will become strong, the poor will become rich, and the unhappy will become happy.

Destiny is waiting in every corner, and in the eternity of time, there is a moment, which belongs to the photographer, which shows a situation in the present, a condition, and this is now –
in 2010,
here they are, such
young Hungarian guys,
and here is Ági Vedres, the photographer, who sees them now,
and lets the viewer see them too.
And then perhaps the next time, when she shows them again, perhaps by then
it will be 2020, with the same, now grown Hungarian men.

Ági Vedres
(1965, Budapest)
www.agivedres.com; www.vedresagi.blogspot.com

Education
2000-03 Eötvös Loránd University of Sciences
2003-05 Janus Pannonius University of Sciences

Awards and Scholarships
2009 • First Prize, “Everything but the City” national photography competition, FotóFalu (PhotoVillage), Budapest
2009 • Scholarship of Budapest Gallery – Salzburg Landesregierung, Salzburg
2008 • Special Prize of the Directorate of Museums of Pest County – Kossuth Museum, Cegléd
2007 • 2nd Prize, Gizmowave 2 – Mediawave Festival, Gyõr

Professional Membership
2010 • Studio of Young Photographers (FFS)

Solo Exhibitions
2009 • guten Morgen Schnee – Künstlerhaus, Landesatelier, Salzburg, Austria
2008 • ÉJ (Night) – Újlipótváros Club Gallery, Cellar Show, Budapest
2008 • ikerfüggvény (Twin Function) – Lamar Tea Club, Budapest
2007 • Az “Arany Disznók” orrukkal már a csengõt nyomják (The “Golden Pigs” Press the Bell with their Snouts) - No1 Chinese Restaurant, Budapest, MG Gallery – 1 HÉT 1 TÉR (1 Week 1 Space) introductory series
2007 • My Sweet SUZI, Pagoda Gallery, Budapest
2007 • halhatatlan NAGYOK (Immortal Greats) – first series; - Színhely Gallery, Budapest

Group exhibitions
2010 • Experience in every point of view! Palace of Arts, Budapest • Sándor Petõfi‘s Mustache Memory competition, Tûzraktér, Budapest • III. Ágens Photo Auction and Exhibition, Ágens Photographic Art Gallery, Budapest
2009 • Closer to Beyond, Galleria_Studio44, Genova, Italy • Museo D'Arte Contemporanea, Casa del Console, Calice Ligure, Italy • PIKNIK, ÁMK, Baracs • Fotófalu (Photo Village), Millenáris Park, Budapest, Hungarian House of Photography - Mai Manó House, Budapest • FOOTNOTE, Mûvész Kávézó, Kecskemét • LIGHT, Boulevard&Brezsnyev Gallery, Budapest
2008 • VI. Coloured Photo Competition, Mihály Vörösmarty ÁMK, Bonyhád• Statues of Kossuth in public places in Hungary, Museum of Kossuth, Cegléd
2007 • East-European Digital Message, KAPOSART, 6th Middle-East European Postcard, Vaszary Art Gallery, Kaposvár• PigArt, Chinese Characters Contemporary Art Space, Budapest• East-European Digital Message 2., Pécsi Kisgaléria, Pécs• ForteForever – Exhibtion No.1 (photographs on FORTE papers), Mai Manó Gallery - Mai Manó House, Budapest• SYMBIOSIS, ETNOFOTO, KÉK (Hungarian Contemporary Architecture Centre), Budapest• FASHION, Színhely Gallery, Budapest• VersMegálló, House of Arts, Árkád - Pécs, Sziget Festival-Budapest• Estiskola, Valley of Arts, Taliándörögd• Europe of culture – culture of urbanity, Gyõr, Miskolc, Eger, VOLT Festival-Sopron, Pula, Gödör -Budapest, Sziget Festival-Budapest, Pécs • ForteForever, Kayabacho, Tokyo, Japan • 6th Lumix Digital Photo Competition and Exhibition, Museum of Ethnography, Budapest
2002 • Variations for disk, Society of Downtown Artists, Nádor Gallery, Budapest
2001 • Cökxpon Ambient Festival, Fonó Music Club, Budapest
1998 • Transart Communication, International Multimedia Festival, Mûcsarnok, Budapest
1995 • International Mail Day, Middle-East European Postcard, Kaposvár • Mail Art Exhibition, Somogy County Cultural Centre, Kaposvár • 3,5 inches, Club for Young Artist, Budapest
1994 • 13rd Hungarian Textile Biennial, Municipal Gallery, Szombathely • Women Light Up The Night, Video and Slide Festival, Tacheles Berlin Mitte, Berlin
1993 • II. National Grotesque Competition, Kaposvár• Tanny Sand, 1st May Open Air Pool, Budapest • „IKAGIKA” Gallery by Night, Stúdió Gallery, Budapest
1992 • Middle-East European Postcard, Kapos Art Gallery, Kaposvár
1985 • Esztergom Gallery, Esztergom
1983 • Mini Gallery Újpest, Budapest• Month of Visual Art, Buda Castle, Budapest
1979 • Gyõzõ Somogyi Barn exhibition, Salföld

photo: Katalin Tamás