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In limbo Q&A I Hanna Csender

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


I don't have high expectations from life, as long as I always have sweet wine in my glass, a camera in my right hand and paper and markers on my desk. I have been a fan of art since I was a little girl. Initially the world of film, and later the art world itself, became for me a shell where all rationality was removed and then allowed my imagination to flourish. Every time, I'm thrilled to be able to shape a replicated reality to my own style and taste. For years I have been constantly pushing the boundaries of my own imagination. This is essential for me to understand who I am, as it allows me to create my own world. I am fascinated by the power that is in each person: the power to create. I define the world, I create and I fill it with characters, like in a fairy tale.



2. What does photography mean to you?


In my opinion, every creative individual has an artistic technique that she/he can use like a mother tongue for speaking. For me, photography and graphics are the language I use to present my world. I chose this mixed media technique because they can only create my ideas hand in hand. The graphic elements lure the viewer in, transporting them to a "dream world" that I create with my line drawing. The photographic elements, which are mainly portraits of living persons, pull me back from the dream, as we are looking at real persons. The photography itself is responsible for the more realistic representation, the graphics for the subjective.



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


Mainly the movies and my dreams. Without exception, every single picture I have created has been inspired by a film or a dream. This does not mean that I copy a frame from a film, but that I use the feelings evoked by the world of the film in my creative process. I know it may sound strange to mention my second source of inspiration, but there is nothing mystical about it. The dream world is a stage for the unconscious, where many repressed impulses and feelings are concentrated in the form of various series of images. It is mainly from here that I draw ideas when creating the graphic elements.



4. What was the last topic you dealt with?


For the last three years, and probably for the next few years, I will be working on the subconscious and the dream world. I think it is an extremely interesting and important topic that is not sufficiently addressed, despite the important role it plays in self-awareness and self-development.

I present my subjective imagination in various series, in which the candle symbol is a common element. I play with the idea of what it would be like if there were no boundaries between the conscious and the unconscious. That is, what it would be like if we could not distinguish reality from dream. What would it be like to face our nightmare characters? What would it be like to experience and feel repressed trauma?

The symbol of the burning candle reflects the aforementioned boundary, the thin line that defines the limits of reason. Along this line, I would like to draw attention to the fact that it is important for an artist to play with the boundaries of consciousness, because art is not always about reality.



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


In my opinion, a sense of beauty, art and the desire to create protect us from falling into a life of pain. And artists and creative people should be supported and encouraged in every way. Young people create where they can, but it is also our responsibility to give them a space and a voice. So there is a clear and strong need!



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


On the one hand, it makes me happy to be a creator who can create in the warmth of my own home. On the other hand, the lack of job opportunities that exist makes it very difficult for us to settle down, so we have to fight a constant internal battle between staying at home, where we can't necessarily make a living from our work, or moving on and trying our luck elsewhere.



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


Off Space is an environment where it doesn't matter who you are or what background you come from. We're an association where we break down social divides and focus only on empowering and supporting young people who want to create. There is no empty space between established artists and emerging artists, but together we help young people to thrive and find their artistic voice in a noisy city.



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


In my opinion, although people are interested in the arts, there are still constant barriers to associations and groups that want to get off the ground. More space and a greater voice could be given to the arts as a whole, so that it is not a distant concept, but something close to body and soul.



9. What are your plans for the future?


I definitely want to stay here and continue to create. I don't know what road lies ahead, but I think it's a fight worth fighting.




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