Zalán Szakács is a post-digital artist, audiovisual performer and researcher who explores media theories through the use of light, space, and sound. His conceptual approach is translated into interactive and immersive environments, creating atmospheres that challenge human perception.
In each project, Szakács explores a personal fascination of historical subjects and deconstructs them through a cultural, political and social lens. Through this research, he analyses overlooked and unconventional parallels between past and current zeitgeists.
Szakács exhibited and performed at Kunsthaus Graz, V2_ Lab for the Unstable Media and Klankvorm in Rotterdam, sound:frame in Vienna, Atlas Electronic in Marrakesh, Demo festival, CIVA – new media art festival, Espronceda in Barcelona, Dekmantel in Amsterdam and has collaborated with artists such as Children of the Light, Stefan Fraunberger, Sébastien Robert and Teresa Winter.
In 2017, Szakács graduated from Design Academy Eindhoven with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Man and Communication. In 2019 he completed his masters at Piet Zwart Institute, Rotterdam in Media Design: Experimental Publishing.
Experience
Exhibitions
2021
Oxitocina Machina, Ars Electronica, Linz, AUT; MEET, Milano, IT; Espronceda, Barcelona, ES; V2_ Lab for the Unstable Media, Rotterdam, NL
Panoptica, Schloss Dornburg, Gommern, DE
Ornament, Die Auflösung der Städte, Berlin, DE
Eigengrau, pre-reserved, Amsterdam, NL
Topia, Steur, Rotterdam Art Week, Rotterdam, NL
Eigengrau, The New Current, Rotterdam Art Week, Rotterdam, NL
Oxitocina Machina, Espronceda, Barcelona, ES
Kring, The Warp & It's Weft, Kunstkapel, Amsterdam, NL
Topia, pre-reserved, Amsterdam, NL (prototype 3)
Catoptrica, CIVA, Contemporary Immersive Virtual Art Festival
2020
Lichtspiel, Schloss Dornburg, Gommern, DE
Topia, Het Hem, Zaandam, NL (prototype 2)
2019
Topia, De Vasim, Nijmengen, NL (prototype 1)
Ornament, Kunsthaus Graz, AUT
Eigengrau, Piet Zwart Institute Masters Graduation Show, UBIK Gallery, Rotterdam, NL
Ornament II, Design in Motion Festival, Amsterdam, NL
2018
Dutch Design Week, Klokgebouw, Eindhoven, NL
2017
Blocks Remix, Dutch Design Week, Design Academy Eindhoven Graduation Show, Eindhoven, NL
Blocks Remix, Alive – Design Days, Group Exhibition, Burggasse 98, Vienna, AUT
A/V Performances
2019
Quadra, Klankvorm, V2_ Lab for the Unstable Media, Rotterdam, NL
Lola, Oval Space, London, UK
Dekmantel, Amsterdam, NL
2018
Atlas Electronic, Marrakesh, MAR
Dekmantel, Amsterdam, NL
2017
Singularity, Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), De Brakke Grond, Amsterdam, NL
5 years anniversary Children of the Light, La Gaîté Lyrique, Paris, FR
Lectures
2021
Eigengrau, Performative Lecture, pre-reserved, Amsterdam, NL
Eigengrau, Performative Lecture, The New Current, Rotterdam Art Week, NL
Screen As Immaterial Space, Lecture about the media genealogy of the screen, Visual Culture Studies department, University College Utrecht, NL
Screen As Immaterial Space, Workshop about new ways of immersive storytelling, HKU University of the Arts, Utrecht, NL
Artist Keynote and Panel Discussion, CIVA, Contemporary Immersive Virtual Art Festival
2019
Ornament and sound in Electronics, Kunsthaus Graz, AUT
Zefir, Stroom, The Hague, NL
2018
Publishing as Practice, Stedelijk Museum, Schiedam, NL
2017
Pecha Kucha, Koninklijke Schouwburg, The Hague, NL
Scenography
2020
NYE Drift, Nijmegen, NL
2019
Herfstdrift festival, Nijmegen, NL
Lola, Oval Space, London, UK
Publications
2020
Screens as immaterial spaces, published by sound:frame
2019
Phantasmagoria, Master Thesis, Piet Zwart Institute
Grants
2021
Grant Programme for Talent Development Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie
Eigengrau: Makersloket, Droom en Daad
Topia: Makersloket, Droom en Daad
Eigengrau: Immerse\Interact, Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie/Netherlands Film Fund
Eigengrau: Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst
2020
Eigengrau: Fonds Kwadraat
Topia: Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds