Márton Nemes is an artist living and working in Budapest and London. He studied at the Faculty of Industrial Design at the Technical University Budapest and the Hungarian University of Fine Arts' Department of Painting and absolved a master's degree at the Chelsea College of Arts, University of Arts London. He won the Ludwig Prize in 2012, followed by the Esterházy Art Prize in 2019. He is an outstanding, innovative member of the young generation of artists. In his works, Nemes interpreted painting initially as a starting point but soon transcended the medium's traditional boundaries. He became interested in the image as such, in the visual effects of today's vibrant visual environment, furthermore the issues of figuration and abstraction. By examining the boundaries of different genres, he creates a bridge between various subcultures and high culture. In his first series – which was created in the artist's figurative period – Nemes observed how changing economic and ideological interests influence architecture. However, the geometric depiction of the abandoned shops already indicated an inner need to drift towards a holistic understanding of pictorial abstraction. The painting practice of Nemes is characterised by continuous experimentation and the contemplation of painting through painting. He uses a variety of materials within his compositions, relying on an extended interpretation of colour. The paint, the abundance of multi-coloured plastics and the sintered metal element reveal a dynamic attitude to constructing imagery. Beyond the utilisation of traditional painting instruments, he also incorporates rarely used materials and tools into his creative processes, such as steel frames, foils, wooden debris, and some additional appliances seldom used in painting. These complex constellations are then fused with installative elements, expanding into space. Nemes's work – his impressive range of dynamics and power – has a tremendous emotional impact on the viewer. Julia Fabényi