"In memoriam" by István Molnár
2018
On 27 January 2018, in the Transcarpathian Regional Art Museum named after Y. Bokshai, it was opened a retrospective exhibition of paintings by one of the brightest and most talented representatives of the youth culture of Transcarpathia and Western Ukraine of the late 1980s – early 1990s István Molnár. The exposition is titled "In memoriam".
The exhibition is devoted to the 50th anniversary of the Transcarpathian artist's birthday. István Molnár (1968 – 1993) was a bright personality, fond of rock music (he created his rock band "St. Pauli Guys" with his friends), became the leader of an informal group of young artists called "Left Eye". A serious illness took the life of an extremely talented artist at the age of 25, only seven years he dedicated to art. However, for such a short period, he managed to leave behind a rich art heritage.
The exposition opened in the Art Museum presents 48 works of the artist – paintings that belong to the Molnár family and private collectors, including foreign ones. Mostly, all the presented works are made in the technique of oil on canvas. "In memoriam" – the third exhibition of István’s works after his death. The previous ones were in Lviv and Uzhhorod. The artist began his activity in 1986, in particular, with the informal group of young "underground" artists "Left Eye". A colleague and friend of István, a member of the "Left Eye" as well as the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, Serhii Biba, said that the first public exhibition of István was a provocative one and impressed a lot of people. It was held in the basement since at that time it was very difficult to organize the exposition. Nevertheless, it had a tremendous success. "He would be very impressed with in this direction and would create even more. He was a very principled and bright artist."
His sister – Ildikó Molnár also remembers the creative path of István. "He was rather a modest man, but at the same time – a true rebel," said I. Molnár’s sister. He resisted the deep-rooted tendencies in the art of that time. I think, as an artist, he would develop and would be even more interesting. He had his taste in art, music, clothes. He played the guitar without knowing a single note. He had his own vision of everything. "
At the exhibition "In memoriam" there are works presented to the public for the first time. The exposition is organized with the help of the Department of Culture of the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration.
The exhibition will last until 18 February.
Text: Denys Fazekash
Photo: Nataliia Pavlyk
