Istvan Dukai

Year of birth: 1987
Where do you live: Budapest, Hungary
Your education: Graphic designer/Visual artist
Describe your art in three words: Raw, Minimal, Sensual
Your discipline: Perfectionism
Website | Instagram

Your work is deeply rooted in geometric tradition and minimalism. Could you elaborate on how these influences shape your artistic process and final compositions?

I see my autonomous art as predominantly non-referential. My works aim to present objective and perceivable qualities rather than alluding to any external or symbolic meaning.
I strive to find an objective, mathematical organizing principle to counteract disorder and chaos, creating an abstract order or system. At the same time, through my choice of materials and the deliberate degradation of my forms, I also reveal the inevitable—impermanence and decay.

Your pieces often evoke a sense of calm and transcendence. How do you balance these elements with the inevitable passage of time and moments of disruption in your artwork?

Balance is a central element of my art, making its role essential. I believe that other areas of life also function properly only when we find and cultivate the right equilibrium.
These artworks can be seen as a declaration of the inherent beauty of natural, ephemeral materials. However, beneath them lies a strict compositional structure, which contrasts with the worldly impermanence of the chosen mediums and subtly references the aforementioned influences from art history.

Istvan Dukai | Objekt V2 Certo Scio | 2020

You mention that some materials and techniques in your art are evocative of your childhood during the Balkan war. Can you tell us more about how these personal experiences influence your choice of materials and imagery?

I’ve mentioned that I primarily view my works objectively, but some of my artistic series engage with specific themes and contemporary issues. One such example is my work on military tarps and tents that were used during the Yugoslav Wars, where my main message is demilitarization.
I reinterpret the objects, surfaces, and materials I source—whether found or deliberately sought out—through both digital and physical acts of degradation. The materials I use are deeply connected to my rural childhood: rough, handwoven sackcloth, military tarps, or worn, rusted metal sheets.Once prepared, these surfaces undergo various physical distressing processes, such as sand washing, soaking, scrubbing, chemical treatments, and boiling in tannin-rich liquids extracted from tanning plants.

Brutalist architecture and local folk art seem to be important sources of inspiration for your work. How do you incorporate these elements into your compositions, and what do they represent for you?

Since childhood, one of my primary sources of formal inspiration has been Yugoslav brutalist architecture and Hungary’s socialist realist memorials and buildings. I felt like I was in a true sci-fi film when I was near them. In my art, the sensibility of visual arts merges with the complexity of architecture and the systematic approach of design. The geometric decorative patterns of local folk art have also subconsciously become part of my work, as I grew up in a very small, isolated village where I encountered these forms every day. Since I socialized with these elements, I consider it important for them to appear in some form in my artworks.

Istvan Dukai | RUR-SUS | 2020

The use of digital design combined with traditional printing techniques plays a significant role in your art. How do you see the relationship between digital and traditional practices in contemporary art?

The era and context are entirely different compared to artists who lived 100–200 years ago. Today, computers, digital tools, and software are inescapable—they have become an integral part of our daily lives. However, balance, as I’ve previously mentioned, is crucial here as well—how much of the digital aspect we incorporate into our art, especially when it comes to AI. If the machine-driven element overflows, I don’t believe we can still call it a human creation.

Your works often feature contrasts, such as light versus dark and contained versus disruptive forms. How do these contrasts relate to the emotional and philosophical messages you aim to convey?

These contrasts create a certain level of “rhythm” within my otherwise static works. Sharp geometric shapes alternate with curved lines, and these interfering motifs generate illusions, ambiguity, and a sense of movement and flickering.

Istvan Dukai | Fluit | 2022

Can you describe the role of texture in your art? How does the tactile quality of the materials enhance the viewer’s experience?

My work is primarily characterized by craftsmanship, tactility, and the use of unconventional materials. Since I don’t paint with a brush but instead intervene in forgotten, story-filled materials—such as sackcloth and rusted steel sheets—it’s crucial that the final piece remains expressive. I believe that my digitally inspired forms become more human, softer, and more approachable when I emphasize the tactile qualities of the various materials.