Tunde Darvay
Reflections by Tunde Darvay
The culture and surroundings of places she's lived inspire North Carolina-based artist Tunde Darvay. Born in Transylvania, Romania, when the region in Central-Eastern Europe was still part of Hungary, Tunde grew up speaking both the Romanian and Hungarian languages. She grew up in a small village near a large city and experienced a blend of country living and metropolitan influence. Art did not enter Tunde's life until she was in her teens. She recalls wanting to be a teacher in elementary school. However, an after-school art program in high school that taught her to draw and paint made her realize she could not live without art.
Upon graduating high school, Tunde attended the University of Arts and Design in Cluj-Napoca, the second-most populated city in Romania. She spent five years at the school learning diverse art skills. After two years, she decided to specialize in monuments and iconography. She loved painting on walls and signed up to help restore art in Orthodox churches during her summers. "I was curious about the restoration process and felt it was an extraordinary opportunity to help revive beautiful churches and paint," says Tunde.
Tunde graduated from the university in 2003 and moved to Norman, Oklahoma, for her husband's new job. Relocating to the United States was an exciting and challenging experience for Tunde. She says, "It is difficult for new artists to find their way, but a language and cultural barrier adds many more obstacles." Despite the challenges, Tunde worked tirelessly to develop her artistic career. Immersing herself in her artwork helped her find her voice and refine her distinct style and process.
Tunde discovered a love for painting on textured wood surfaces during her first year in the United States. Initially, she constructed her wood frames, but soon realized she could find used wood at garage sales and antique shops with their own unique story. "Wood already has a life, and many people throw it away. But I can see the stories in the wood, and I imagine how people live around the Wood", says Tunde. Whether it was a used chair or tabletop, Tunde discovered that each wood piece had a different story connected to its life, and she was inspired to create a new narrative that blended the old story with her imagination.
Tunde's artistic process begins when she selects the wood and then chooses what side to paint. "Both sides of a piece of wood have a face you can paint, so it is important first to determine which side works best," says Tunde. Next, she glues mixed media materials, such as paper, buttons, gold leaves, or mosaics, to the wood to help develop its new story. She then plans out and draws the theme of her idea before finally painting.
Bath of an Artist by Tunde Darvay
No matter the project, Tunde finds it easy to be inspired. Living in the United States, Hungary, and Romania have helped her reflect on her experiences with multiple cultures and environments. Her current exhibition at 1515 Lincoln Gallery, titled Local Spaces / Cosmopolitan Visions, expresses the intersections between local communities and expanding global networks she has observed throughout her lifetime. Darvay states, "There is a two-pronged effect in these new works, which represent at once the warmth and intimacy of local communities and a somewhat broader vision of how this close-knit lifestyle relates to a larger, more cosmopolitan and more disaggregated community." Tunde believes that if she didn't relocate to Oklahoma in 2004, her art would not be the same.
Shortly after moving to Oklahoma, a friend wrote Tunde to tell her that she thought her artwork would fit well in a gallery in Oklahoma City called Objets Trouvés, now known as 1515 Lincoln Gallery. Tunde loved what she saw and contacted gallery owner Susan McCalmont to share her work. Before long, Tunde was consigned with the gallery and became an active and vital member of the artist community. Tunde and Susan have grown to be great friends, and Tunde is grateful for the experience that she has had with the artistic community. She says, "This is one of the most professional galleries I've ever known because it keeps its artists from around the world and the extended community constantly connected."
Today, Tunde lives in North Carolina but routinely travels to Romania to spend time with loved ones and collect wood for her artwork. "Every day, my friends and family call me to tell me that they have found wood objects that they are saving for me," says Tunde. She has spent May through August in Romania for several years to create and participate in exhibitions. She intends to travel back frequently to visit family, remain connected to her cultural roots, and continually be inspired. However, the constant travel has forced her to work on smaller-sized pieces because they are easier to pack. Tunde hopes that she can return to painting larger surfaces in the future. She cannot imagine a happier profession and life for herself. "A human needs food and water to survive, and I feel like I need to paint to live in this world," says Tunde. It does not matter where Tunde lives and what size or type of material she works with, just as long as she can paint daily.
Please visit the 1515 Lincoln Gallery website to learn more about Tunde and view her artwork available for purchase.
