Nagy embraced his trilingual nature, embarking on a project contemplating the universal language to accompany his images. The focus extended beyond photography itself, which inherently speaks universally, to the textual aspect of the project. Despite initially envisioning a single image, solace was found in familiar territory - the photo series.
Influenced by Thomas Joshua Cooper's epic journeys capturing tales of exploration, colonization, migration, and homecoming, Nagy delved into extensive research. Matthew Barney's "Drawing Restraint" added depth to the exploration, inspiring a unique approach to the project that evolved. Alejandro Jodorowsky's "The Holy Mountain" left an indelible mark, its impact intensifying over two decades from when Nagy first came in contact with the film. This iconic film, a treasure trove of hidden gems, played a pivotal role in shaping Nagy's artistic vision.
Venturing deeper into the project, Nagy immersed himself in the roots of languages, symbols, runes, pictograms, and ancient cultures. The evolution of language wasn't the focus; rather, it was the journey back to its fundamental, pure form of writing or making a mark in a cave.
Werner Herzog's "Cave of Forgotten Dreams" became a crucial reference, paving the way for Genevieve von Petzinger's TED Talk. Petzinger's dedication, spending over 300 hours documenting 32 signs in European caves, fueled Nagy's fascination. Dots, asterisks, spirals, and negative hands - all symbols with mysterious meanings.
The final work draws inspiration from these ancient signs, using Petzinger's documented symbols in a series of performance art pieces captured through 6-second long exposure documentary photographs. Nagy attempts to categorize them as self-portraits as well.
Though the exact meanings remain elusive, the enduring significance of these symbols echoes through the centuries. Each sign, once laden with profound meaning, continues to resonate, amplified through time.
9 Performance Art for the Camera - Long exposure, document, self-portrait photographs.
"Y Sign"
"Aviform"
"Positive Hand"
"Serpentiform"
"Cordiform"
"Cruciform"
"Circle"
"Negative Hand"
"Unciform"
Exciting news! The project is currently in its developmental phase, and there's much more to come. I'm thrilled to announce that it is expanded to include a total of 32 document images showcasing 32 Performance Art pieces. Please check back later for further updates and insights.
