Located in a part of Budapest called Budafok, Art Quarter Budapest (aqb) is an independent residency with exhibition- and gallery space in a renovated historical brewery. Aqb and FinnAgora started their collaboration in fall 2023 with a 3 -month long residency program. There were many applicants to the program and from them Martta Tuomaala and Ville Andersson were chosen to the international residency program.
FinnAgora as part of pARTir, a collaborative project with ten other Finnish cultural institutes, is organising an open call for a three-month artist residency and a one-month exhibition in Budapest, Hungary. Application is open 17.5 – 31.5.2024. The decision will be made in June in collaboration with AQB curators.
Tell us about your experience during your residency period at aqb. What has been your experience of Budapest and Hungary?
Martta Tuomaala:
Budapest has had so many different art events during this fall, for me one of the most impactful events has been music- and soundartfestival UH Fest. Also to get familiar with Kassák Museum, the personnel at the museum was especially important for me as an artist who works with themes regarding work culture and workers rights.
The residencyperiod started with and open house event and there has also been many exhibitions and other events at the residency. The studio spaces for the artists at aqb, exceeded my expectations, I even had a view of the Danube from my window. Three months went so fast, in a blink of the eye. Budapest is a culturally and historically rich and versatile city, and it surprised me in how big the city is.
Ville Andersson:
Aqb is located a bit away from Budapest. At the start this made me nervous but during the residency I noticed this was a good thing. I have been able to focus better on my work and more persistently. Sometimes it has been nice to take a break from my creative work. Budapest is a vibrant metropolis and it has been very interesting to visit the city's many galleries and museums.
What has been your best memory of the residency period?
Martta Tuomaala:
Long lasting friendships and colleagues. This I can not describe as one memory, but a series of events, which hopefully will not end, even if we have left the residency. The people at the residency at aqb became a very tight knit group. The living space at aqb, with its shared kitchen and living room is planned in a way that you get to know people. We organised for example two screening nights dedicated to Palestine, we went to different exhibitions and events together and shared our own experiences of art, politics and life. I feel very lucky that I got to be a part of this experience. Even if the space in aqb supports collective work, it is not granted that the people at the residency will get along.
Ville Andersson:
At the moment I do not have, except my home, a separate work space in Helsinki. At aqb I have had a large work room. This has been needed and I am very happy about it. I have been able to try new workmethods that I haven't been able to in Helsinki. This has absolutely been the best memory for me.
What do you take with you from your experience in Hungary and is there something that will affect your art?
Martta Tuomaala:
In Budapest I have mainly been doing research and script writing for two of my up and coming audiovisual works. The themes I am working with are universal, but I am sure the artists and workers rights activists I have met in Budapest will one way or the other affect the content of my work.
Ville Andersson:
I am still in a “hungarybubble” so I haven’t gotten any distance for many things to be able to reflect. The day to day life is the same also here. I think once I return to Helsinki I will work and reflect for a long time of my experience in Budapest.
FinnAgora will continue the collaboration with aqb ja we hope that many other Finnish artists will also get the chance to experience the art field in Hungary and to create memories in the beautiful and creative environment aqb is in next to the Danube.