In limbo Q&A I Annamária Hajdu

1. Briefly introduce yourself: what are the things you like to do, what is important in your life?

I have always been a dreamer and an idealist. Unfortunately, with that comes a sense of disappointment, because what seems normal or achievable to me is impossible to others. Drawing has always helped me to capture and explain my ideas and dreams, to convey them to an environment grounded in reality. I like to seek answers to everything, often the unexplainable, so science plays an important role in my life. I now prefer to find a middle way between dreaming and reality, which is helped by continuous planning and focusing on the present. I value my core values, my family, friends, challenges and experiences, and I love to experience simple things like stargazing, a hike in nature, a tight hug or a smile from a stranger on a normal day.

2. What does landscape architecture mean to you?

Many people are using landscape architecture to transform the natural environment into a human-dominated artificial environment. However, for me, landscape architecture is the aforementioned middle way that helps man live in harmony with nature. I think it is important that as landscape architects we advise people not to further degrade the Earth, but as its current inhabitants, to respect and preserve its natural state.

3. What or who inspires you in your own creative work?

I am most inspired by my time spent in nature, observing the way different plants live, the relationship between animals and their environment, and looking for ways to transfer and operationalise these experiences in the human world.

4. What was the last topic you dealt with?

In Spain, for a gardening exhibition on the theme "The garden is a work of art", we designed a garden as a team to illustrate the relationship between art and garden, entitled "Art grows like a garden". Walking along a spiral path, the visitor can experience the growth of plants, their different colour combinations, textures, reaching a "safe place" where they can contemplate what they have seen and, filled with inspiration, get new ideas to continue. It reflects the evolution of art over time to infinity.

5. In your opinion, does Odorheiu Secuiesc need associations/communities that support contemporary art activities?

I think there is a need for such associations of all kinds. It is important to provide space for young people to express themselves, thus helping them to develop and perhaps in the future we will see the emergence and growth of a satisfied generation.

6. What does it mean to you to be an artist from Odorheiu Secuiesc or its surroundings?

Although I haven't lived in Odorheiu for years, I'm happy to belong somewhere. On some level, it gives me a sense of security to know that I have a place where I can return and continue to create in familiar surroundings.

7. What opportunities do you see in Off Space's initiatives and how does the association differ from similar organisations/initiatives in Odorheiu Secuiesc?

I think what is unique about our association is that it welcomes and allows anyone to come forward, be it from different professions, different views, different financial backgrounds. The fact that it's run by young people who are open to new, contemporary things and whose aim is to help young artists to develop, to have a voice and to show their work to an audience helps a lot.

8. What would you change in Odorheiu Secuiesc from an artistic point of view?

From an artistic point of view, but in fact in any other field in Odorheiu Secuiesc, it is important to change people's attitude towards new things. If they were more open-minded and receptive, their lives would take a positive direction, they would be more satisfied and happy with their own lives, experiencing new and exciting things. Life would not be so monotonous.

9. What are your plans for the future?

First of all, I would like to learn a lot during my master's degree, so that I can be as good as I want to be in my profession. I plan to live abroad, at least for a while, to gain experience and challenge myself at different aspects of landscape architecture. I don't plan very far ahead, I'm curious to see where life takes me.

// SEE HAJDU'S PORTFOLIO HERE // IN LIMBO ONLINE SHOWCASE //