Life Story

Intro

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My path to photography, the same as the art itself began at the early age of my baby-hood. It was thorn and tortuous. Nevertheless, I still lived my childhood joyfully. The charm of the children’s world, its simplicity and the beauty of a carefree, combined with the benefits associated with it, facilitated the development of my artistic spirit. Especially, the fact that adults do not protest and do not use their nonsensical arguments to justify their cowardice towards children and do not throw logs under their feet, has benefited me greatly.

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In my memories, I always like to go back to this period, because, with age, I am becoming more and more aware that it has influenced and dramatically shaped my personality as an artist. The variety of activities, the freedom of choice and the natural defiance of parents resulting from the desire to discover the world around me, apparently ‘marked’ me (laughs). The environment of the village, which is inextricably bound up with nature, played an important role as did the number of activities, which can be carried out there. The outdoor games I organised, developed my imagination. Alternatively, my imagination just developed them. In addition, our everyday football and biking or endless walks in nature shaped my body change. I must not forget my camping in our blooming garden full of beautiful flowers,  well-groomed by my mom, the smell of freshly growing or hand-cut grass. All surrounded by the massive crowns of trees casting a pleasant shadow cooling the ground.

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My spirit shaped both the Christian faith and also natural love of my mother with strong intentions to empathy and inculcation of fundamental human values. However, a very important binder between the past world, the present and the future world was my grandmother, whom I, unfortunately, only vaguely remember now. Her kindness and courtesy, result from the difficult life moments, which were fully passed to me in full sips. The smell of freshly baked pie or cakes... Ahhh (a deep sigh at the thought of that wonderful smell)... This confirms the fact that the most beautiful moments in our lives often last only fractions of seconds, minutes, hours or a certain period of our life.

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Path to the Art

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As a child, I loved to read the scientific literature for children and youth. Books on astrology, palaeontology, science and technology – a study of the principles of technology and their significance for society. An enormous inspiration to me in this period was mostly Greek and Egyptian mythology. Later, it was accompanied by an interest in Roman and Mesopotamian culture.

 

I enjoyed drawing and painting. I loved the smell of paper, felt its texture with the touch of my fingertips. I sensitively perceived the sound of pencils and crayons, as well as the different tones when they broke. Style of shapes, curves and lines created while brushing. I was deeply aware of the complexity of colours inherent in the wavelengths of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, which form the basis for the light visible to the human eye and thus the theory of colour. Shadows, shades and their tonality. Tones licked by the musical daily-life instruments as pots, bottles, wooden instruments, etc. Even though I didn't grow up in an artistic family, I fell in love with the sound of an acoustic guitar and later drums and a piano. I loved, and I still do love their wide and deep range of sound.

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Adolescence

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The period of adolescence was difficult, deeply marked by entering the world of adults. A world full of endless possibilities, but also common worries, intrigue, falsehood, lies, hatred and jealousy. Full of senseless attacks against anyone who stood out from the crowd and had a different vision and perception of the world.

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My story began to be written at the elementary school in Jánošovka which lies in the distinctive village of Čierny Balog. I could still feel there the reverberations of my childhood and also that strong bond with our ancestor’s spirits and the essence of art itself.  Also thorough our amazing teachers. Our class, as one of the latest (if not the last), caught a generation of old, I dare say the esteemed teachers, who taught not only out of duty or desire for the financial security but also with respect, humility and passion for their profession. With a gigantic database of theoretical knowledge supplemented by practical and life experience. With an understanding of higher goals beyond their own existence.

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Age of Darkness

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After finishing primary school, I continued in the study of technologies at nowadays non-existent secondary school in Brezno, as it was not appropriate and possible for a person of my social status to move to the artistic direction at that time. Strong emphasis was placed on pragmatism, the suppression of the character traits of the individual, his talent and submission to the system. That situation often reminds me of the title of the manuscript "There is no further way ..."

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This period significantly affected me. It hurt my soul and took me away from what formed and still forms my essence. Like when you separate a new-born baby away from his mother. The system finally succeeded ... And I became what, by definition of our society, every person in the lower class must become. A cold, dark and insensitive creature. A perfect machine, a perfect slave.

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Inside, however, I always carried and hid at least a tiny ligamentous piece of my colourful world covered by the dust of my dreams. Hoping that one day, like a caterpillar, I will turn into a beautiful butterfly and spread my wings. In human speech - I will walk the path of my dreams, undaunted, devote myself to what fulfils me internally and thus bring benefits not only to me but also to the whole society in a non-forced way. Let me tell you. It was a beautiful idea.

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Reality Can be Often Disappointing - Part I

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Despite my big dreams, visions and plans, I irrationally and stupidly continued my studies at a technical university. When I think about it now, it was quite logical, since I had no money to spare at that time. The dormitory, the purchase of a PC, and other common expenses for most people of the society were just a utopia for me. I still remember the emotion of purchasing my very first laptop. That euphoria of joy. It was in the 3rd year of my bachelor's studies at university. After a month spent at the university I simply understood that I would not be able to make it without a PC in the field of IT. I don't even want to think what my roommates thought of me (laughs).

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Time has passed like water. After the various pitfalls that accompanied this study, I discovered the charm of technical specialization thanks to a few extraordinary and talented people. In fact, I subconsciously transformed this whole complex titanic technological area into an artistic-to-technical field with my own algorithm. All the technologies, even though I didn't enjoy studying many of them at all, I began to perceive as a great tool for creating artworks. And that helped me to enliven the next years of my boring technical life.

 

Reality Can be Often Disappointing - Part II

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Disappointment appeared at the end of my studies when I increasingly started to fully realize how my art and life paths diverge. I didn't know who I am, what is my life-goal or where I belong to and what I would do next. Moreover, the study fell far short of its purpose and did not fulfil its essence. It is such a tradition in our country. And so I did what logically made sense to me. As you say in English: "Keep doing ..."

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For me, doctoral studies had become a turbulent and extremely challenging period of my life. Time to change my mind had come... There had been more responsibilities, but also life challenges that I was not simply prepared for. Still, I had not given up and fought on. The death of a man, whom I honoured and respected greatly, struck and resonated inside me during the following 1.5 years of study. In addition, however, I began to apply in practice the knowledge he passed on to me. In the absence of his presence, I realized how much he had left me before he passed away. He was truly my personal and professional mentor, but mainly a friend and a man of a big heart.

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The first experience with independent creative writing, multitasking and time management was just a drop in the sea of other, consecutive, activities and obtained skill-set that made a change over time. After 25 years of my life, for the first time, I had the opportunity to delve into the depths of my soul and discover my hidden potential. Discover me. Stop forcing myself to limit and flourish.

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Reality Can be Often Disappointing - Part III

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Heyday did not last long. Entities older than time, who must be shrouded in the satin veil of the word, watched my footsteps carefully. They saw my enormous emancipation, empathy, and inner zeal for the cause. They perceived it as a great threat. The threat that needed to be removed. Fortunately, not physically. So, thank God, I can still write these words...

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The above-mentioned events wound me deeply. Humiliation and persistent bullying, which are accepted and tolerated by our society as a habitual part of our lives, have marked and changed me. Transformation is sometimes a painful process. However, from time to time, the tax for it is sometimes too harsh. The reality was a disappointment ...

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Time to Come, Time to Leave

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Once a wise college educator said, "There is time to come and time to leave." And then he added: "However, some people still do not know when to leave ..." I realized in hindsight that it was the best solution because I had felt for a long time that I literally soured and burned out in that environment. And it had nothing more to offer me. Therefore I chose a painful and difficult path. I decided to walk the path of freedom. Through the path of my dreams, regardless of the consequences ... In the words of Mark Twain, an American writer, satirist and humourist: "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."

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Change of Mind

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Previous events, an attempt to reintegrate to the grey average of the society, looking for a job accompanied by underestimation, and especially the effort to survive resulted in a decision to leave Slovakia after months of unemployment. The idea that led to my journey was very humble. I told to myself: "If I am such garbage as people say and they strongly make me feel that, then I will be a volunteer. Let the universe decide whether I deserve to live or die ..." And it decided. I'm still alive ...

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Three basic guidelines led me to be volunteering:

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• the desire to improve my thriving passion - photography,

• the desire for freedom and the opportunity to learn something new (culture, language, whatever else...),

• the natural love for children.

 

Although it was a difficult path, all the time intertwined with fear and marked by great pain, I set out on that path with joy and new hope. To describe the details would perhaps take another book ...

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This path resulted in the beginning of my personality transformation, which I process and experience basically to this day.

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Journey into the Unknown...

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Identifying with the words of DJ Avicii's famous song "I can't tell where the journey will end, but I know where to start ...", I have no idea where the path will lead me, but I know I have to go through it...

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Fine-Art

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Alternatively, as I call it familiarly in Slovak, "Delicious Yummy yummy Art" is the path I am currently walking on. I focus on photography and the creative and N-On-Creative activities associated with it.