Nagy embraces his trilingual nature in a compelling project that contemplates the universal language accompanying his images. While photography inherently communicates across cultures, transcending the barriers of spoken language, he expands his focus to the textual aspects of his work, recognizing that words can evoke different emotional landscapes. Initially envisioning a single, poignant image, he discovers solace in the richness of a series, drawing inspiration from Thomas Joshua Cooper's epic journeys that explore profound themes of exploration, colonization, migration, and the elusive notion of homecoming. Cooper's work serves not only as a visual reference but as a philosophical lens through which Nagy examines humanity's intricate relationship with place and identity.
Matthew Barney’s Drawing Restraint further enriches Nagy’s exploration, introducing a unique approach that evolves throughout the project. Barney's exploration of physicality and ritual encourages Nagy to engage with his own body as a site of expression, blurring the boundaries between the artist and the artwork. The profound impact of Alejandro Jodorowsky’s The Holy Mountain - a film he first encountered over two decades ago - also shapes his artistic vision, revealing a treasure trove of hidden meanings that resonate deeply within him. Jodorowsky’s surreal imagery and metaphysical themes inspire Nagy to explore the layers of existence and consciousness, prompting him to question the very nature of reality and representation in his work.
Delving into the roots of languages and ancient symbols, Nagy shifts his focus from the evolution of language to its fundamental expressions, investigating how early forms of communication encapsulated the human experience. He reflects on how symbols served as vessels of meaning, connecting individuals across time and space. Key influences include Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams, which offers a glimpse into humanity’s earliest artistic expressions, and Genevieve von Petzinger’s TED Talk, where she meticulously documents 32 signs found in European caves. Her dedication, which involved over 300 hours of study, fuels Nagy’s fascination with these ancient signs. Each symbol - whether a dot, asterisk, spiral, or negative hand - emerges as a central motif, steeped in mystery and laden with potential interpretations that invite both intellectual inquiry and emotional response.
The culmination of Nagy’s exploration manifests in a series of performance art pieces that draw from these ancient symbols, integrating Petzinger’s documented signs into his practice. Captured through six-second long-exposure document photos, these images serve as self-portraits that reflect his identity and cultural heritage. Each performance becomes a ritualistic act of creation, a dialogue between the past and present, where the act of marking becomes a means of reclaiming history and expressing contemporary relevance.
While the exact meanings of these symbols may remain elusive, their enduring resonance speaks to the human experience, echoing through centuries and transcending the confines of time. In this project, Nagy invites viewers to engage with these symbols, to ponder their significance in a world that often prioritizes the ephemeral over the enduring. The project becomes not just an exploration of ancient signs but a profound meditation on the interconnectedness of language, art, and identity in shaping our understanding of existence.
"Y Sign"
"Aviform"
"Positive Hand"
"Serpentiform"
"Cordiform"
"Cruciform"
"Circle"
"Negative Hand"
"Unciform"
Exciting news! The project is currently in its developmental phase, and there is much more to come. Nagy is thrilled to announce that it has expanded to include a total of 32 document images, each showcasing a unique Performance Art piece. Please check back later for more updates and insights!