Tamás Soós was born in Budapest in 1955. He studied at the Hungarian University of Applied Arts in the textile department from 1980 to 1985. From 1987 to 1989, he was a recipient of the Derkovits Scholarship, and in 1994, he received a scholarship from the Hungarian Academy in Rome. In 1998, he was awarded a scholarship from the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris. Soós participated in the New Sensibility III exhibition in 1985 and the New Sensibility IV exhibition in 1987. In 1995, the Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art in Budapest presented a major solo exhibition of his work. His works are held in numerous national and international collections.
Soós is equally fascinated by the current relevance of natural sciences and the wisdom of Eastern philosophies. In his earliest paintings, he combined fresh scientific insights from quantum physics with the ancient teachings of Zen masters. His “Substances” series began in the early 1980s, during his time as a student in the tapestry department at the University of Applied Arts. Although he was randomly assigned to this department, it required him to think on a monumental scale. He sourced large cardboard sheets measuring 260 × 200 centimeters from the Csepel Paper Factory, allowing him to work at the appropriate scale in his studio. The first piece in the “Substances” series emerged from this period: a vibrant weave of excited brushstrokes. These brushstrokes, reminiscent of monsoon rain beating on a river’s surface in the jungle, form white line scribbles that drum on indistinctly colored backgrounds. Among the playful, graffiti-like white strokes, occasional golden spots gleam like small planets or soul seeds, crystallizing in the infinite wave vibrations of the universe—ephemeral yet sublime, awaiting interpretation. Many pieces in the series were created on large cardboards of the same size, with several compositions shaped by thicker, more expressive gestures in pink, light blue, lemon yellow, and military green. The industrial paint, sometimes cracked, features raised brushstrokes and paper-mâché strips soaked with colour. Soós, known for continually reworking his pieces, finalized the “Substances” series in 1989.
Tamás Soós’ oeuvre is represented by Einspach & Czapolai Fine Art. The gallery will showcase an extensive selection from the artist’s rich body of work at the Frieze Masters Spotlight section in London in October 2024.
Tamás Soós
Substances, 1981-83
Tamás Soós
Substances, 1980
Tamás Soós
Substances, 1981