Meet Edit Hermkens, a visionary Hungarian artist whose work transcends traditional boundaries, blending creativity and emotion into captivating visual experiences. With a unique style that merges vibrant colors, intricate details, and profound themes, Hermkens creates art that speaks to the soul. Each piece is a testament to their talent, inviting viewers to explore new perspectives and connect with the deeper layers of human experience.
At Squint Magazine, our curatorial team loves to discover new artists by scanning social media. When they discovered Hermkens, our team was impressed by her art and immediately contacted her and did a short Q&A:
Could you introduce yourself a little to us?
You are trying to find your place in your "small" world, but it is difficult to do so because the world seems full.
But! You know what the lucky thing is? To wake up every day and feel that today will surely bring a miracle:-)
You cherish a dream since your childhood... you even believe it until you are a young adult, it keeps you alive and strong enough to believe - yes!
But boom! You've got to make a living, there's no way out, you've got to face it. You can't rely on anyone but yourself, if you've got no one else, you've got your own two hands.
You have to work. It's a hobby, a dream, but it'll last...
Many other rocks and mountains the years will push in front of you...
Family? Financial difficulties? Along with the consequence of a lingering illness.
How the hell do you get out of this one!!
You can't think of anything else, the world closes in, you feel sometimes suffocated by a humid greyish heavy air. You desperately search for a solution, just so you can raise your
child, preferably without leaving any lasting traces in your offspring, but mostly your smile, your kindly caresses.
Well, maybe I did that, although years will tell the tale.
The end result? Bravo for almost managing to save yourself from your environment, and realising that your spirit has collapsed, you need help. You accept the decision and the punishment for overstretching yourself.
There is nothing left to do but to find yourself again. But what should it be? By the time you remember... Yeah, what have I been cherishing since my childhood: I'm gonna be a painter!
Slowly, slowly you'll find yourself reborn...
Well of course you're proud of yourself, in nearly 40 years of mazes finding yourself.
Maybe you are even proud because it is not easy to fit into the artistic society with a degree in painting and graphic design, which slipped away at some point, but after 13 years you are
probably heading in the right direction.
This is me, at 56, from Hungary.
What inspired you to start painting?
"If you hear a voice inside yourself saying, "You can't paint!", then by all means start painting and the voice will stop."
-Vincent van Gogh
Who are some of your biggest artistic influences?
The answer to this question is that I am most influenced by my environment, including the living world and my desire for self-discovery.
Do you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
Yes, I graduated from a fine arts college.
What mediums and techniques do you prefer to work with?
I work mainly with oil paint on canvas and wood. I like to use pigments as binders.
How do you choose your color palette for a piece?
I dream up the subject and choose the right colours, which often change as I work.
How do you come up with ideas for your paintings?
My subjects may arise from an environmental influence or from a movement, whether animal or human. Or it can be a story that changes as the creative process progresses. The image
speaks to me.
Can you share a particularly memorable or meaningful piece you've created?
My series “Fossils” of 4 Years work is one of my most exciting creations. My palette is a 2 meter long glass table top, on which layers of paint have been accumulated over 4 years. I thought it was time to get rid of the layers of paint that had dried on the glass. I was able to peel off some exciting pieces, a mix of all shades of the colour spectrum. That's when the idea popped up that it would be fun to incorporate it into my new work in the right context.
And so the new series was born. Unfortunately the material is finite, so I'll have to wait a few more years for the treasures. When I finished scraping off all the paint, I discovered that the
residue resembled the picture of a decaying city. I found that interesting. I think that big glass will be used to make a new table out of.
What tools and materials do you find essential in your workspace?
My rubber gloves :-), raw pigments, white sand, paint knives, brushes, and of course my music.
Are there any artists you admire or follow with interest?
Of course, many others whose work I really like and follow on social media and if I'm lucky, I get to see their exhibitions.
First and foremost, Claire Tabouret, a French artist who lives and works in Los Angeles.
What role does social media play in your art career?
I think it's important to have a presence on social media, but in practice I haven't experienced any significant benefits in my career so far. The algorithm is interesting. A few years ago, for example, I had a lot of views on my posts on instagram, which has dwindled to a minimum in the last year. I am a bit confused with self-marketing as I feel a lot of other creatives are. There are special artist management companies for that, however in my
country they are still very much in their infancy.
What do you like to do in your daily life other than painting?
I like sports, tennis, swimming, hiking and cycling. I live in the countryside in nature and my element is the open space, the feeling of freedom, the flora and fauna of nature!
What is your least favorite type of art?
Every piece of art is special and unique in its own way.
Can you share any tips or advice for aspiring artists?
I find it very important to meet and exchange ideas with other artists. Although art is a solitary sport, communication is necessary.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on an anthropomorphic series, depicting stereotypical human characters disguised as animals :-) I am discovering the relations between the human and animal world, seeing how certain characters share a lot of interesting similarities.
Can you describe your art in one sentence?
My art is about nature - people, animals - relationships, feelings, emotions.