Represented artist
drMáriás
festészet · irodalom · zene · performansz
An interdisciplinary artist began his work in Novi Sad, whose critical work links fine art, literature, music and performance.
Born in Novi Sad, where he also began his artistic career, and later fully developed in Budapest, Dr Máriás is one of the most distinctive figures in contemporary Hungarian art. His fine‑art practice gained momentum in the mid‑eighties, sensitively absorbing the period’s core experiential world and linguistic‑stylistic extensions. His start was fundamentally shaped by key international art movements such as neo‑surrealism, neo‑expressionism, existentialist figuration, the Dark Wave, and punk culture.
The tragic undertone of his emotionally over‑stoked world of experience was added by the direct experience of the South‑Slavic war. The first defining archetype of Dr Máriás’ figurativism was the “stick‑man” assembled from minimal structural elements, which in the latter half of that period – the New South Wick era – evolved into the “cut‑out‑man”, laying the groundwork for the nihilistic age that would unfold in Hungary, the individual poetics of wrestling with Nothing.
Having set aside grand metaphysical questions, his pictorial work gradually became more fluid, more insubstantial, and his themes likewise turned towards everyday human phenomena such as consumer culture, as well as the worlds of politicians and celebrities. His art grew increasingly austere, sharp and more critical – in his paintings as well as in his novels and musical pieces. The caricature‑like aspects of his style grew stronger, emphasising the artist’s social and societal sensitivity. drMáriás built, cultivated a world.
Or, if that’s what we want: it did not adorn the existing world, it did not powder or fume or nickel. In poetic terms: it did not compose tidy, courtly sonnets, but rather stark, salon‑free free verse, cacophonous ballads that shattered the canon, parables. At times, these worked like the most potent parabellum, leaving deep, lasting impressions within us.
“Magát a felismerést adták.” Szombathy Bálint “The formal solutions of drMáriás’s pictures simultaneously invoke the stylistic traits of American pop‑art and Russian soc‑art, yet the affinity in both cases is very remote. The artist uses every stylistic element with an inherent naturalness that can be confined to a perspective that appears grotesque – and in that sense almost everything can be richly exaggerated.”
Meanwhile, there is something personal in these paintings as well: the fallen, distinctive gazes through which the artist—though in a manner reminiscent of another creator, yet still firmly anchored to his own character—sees and portrays the figures. Just as Géza Csáth wrote in his diary, Dr‑Máriás paints: gently, yet attentive to the harshnesses, almost perversely. This serves as an important chronicle: should doubts arise about the absurd world we lived in at the turn of the century, one simply needs to look at Dr‑Máriás’s works.
The artist conjures the impossible, like a true Eastern European realist.
Gábor Gulyás
Works at byGodotEarlier professional biography
Full biography and exhibition history
Dr. Máriás was born in Novi Sad in 1966.
He continued his artistic studies in Belgrade and in 1991 moved to Hungary from the former Yugoslavia. His work, which can be described as Gesamtkunstwerk, is principally marked by its harsh, critical tone and by existential questions that arise from East‑European identity and its historical and political particularities. In his creative language he employs the tools of the avant‑garde, Dada, pop‑art and surrealism. He defines his artistic and public‑writing practice as social surgery.
Showcased or performed as a performer in Hungary, England, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, and Romania. In the United States and Russia.
Individual exhibitions – selection:
The New Art Festival of the journal titled Új Symposion, Novi Sad Theatre Kisterme, Novi Sad, 1987
Ruše Gallery, Maribor, 1988 Cultural Centre Main Hall, Novi Sad, 1990
Pictures, University City Cultural Home, Belgrade, 1990
Living Dead Room, Hangar, Budapest, 1992
Windows, Óbudai Társaskör Gallery, 1994
From the diary of Égevő, Youth House, Szeged, 1995
Honourable, Tölgyfa Gallery, Budapest, 1997
Kockamentő, Bohémia Gallery, Szentendre, 1997
Soft Head, MAMU Gallery, Budapest, 1997
Drawing a new face (táskányi menekülés), Bartók 32 Gallery, Budapest, 1997
Crtam novo lice, Cinema Rex, Belgrade, 1998 Hungarians at the Anthology, Courthouse Gallery, New York, United States, 1998
Everyday Science, French Institute, Budapest, 1999
Szép a puszta, Műcsarnok – tetőtér, Budapest, 1999
Charcoal, Donauraum Galerie, Vienna, Austria, 1999
szÉn – új ablakok a semmire, K Bazovsky Ház, Budapest, 2000
Űrbox madrigálok, Műcsarnok – penthouse, Budapest, 2001
I now only hope for the help of politicians! Long live the Politicians! Óbuda Community Gallery, Budapest, 2001
Against others, Erlin Gallery, Budapest, 2002
Vak napló, K Bazovsky House, Budapest, 2002
My only hope are the politicians, MKC, Koper, Slovenia, 2003
Smashed facial expressions, Erlin Gallery, Budapest, 2003
Mehko Lice, Metelkova Gallery, Ljubljana, Slovenia Arconarc, K Petrys House, Budapest, 2004
A Man from the Bush, MKC, Koper, Slovenia, 2004
Wellness‑TERROR, MU Theatre Gallery, Budapest, 2005
I Live Science, Gogol Klub, Moscow, Russia, 2005
Self-portraits of a Suicide Car‑mechanic, Klinker Gallery, London, Anglia, 2005
The self‑destructive auto‑repairer’s self‑portraits, Galeria IX, Budapest, 2006
Scenes from the adventurous life of an APEH administrator – K. Petrys House, Budapest, 2007
«Early Pictures 1986–1991» – Magyar Műhely Gallery, Budapest, 2007
Come to Haag – MKC, Koper, 2007 DadaBloomsDay – Ivy House, London, 2008
From Anna Kelemen's tail, a four‑metre long, Torgyán József‑style goldfish was operated out of the suspended oyster, Erlin, Bp, 2008
Choose! – K. Petrys House, Budapest, 2009
Bukowski in Split – Ghetto Gallery, Split, 2009
Zámbó Jimmy Kazimir in Malevics's studio – K. Petrys House, Budapest, 2010
Retro Perspective – Koperground Festival, Koper, Slovenia, 2010
Death, which we wish to live – Roham Gallery, Budapest, 2010
Bukowski in Split – Galleria Numero 2, Koper, Slovenia, 2011
The East‑European Beatles, The Old Police Station, London, 2011
My dreadful favourites, A38 Ship Gallery, 2011
The Hungarian nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Erlin + Gallery IX, 2012
My bedroom is the Atom, Transport Museum, 2012
Paper works 1994-2003, Topolyai City Museum, Hungary, 2012
Beautiful images from the world of love, A38, Budapest, 2013
Glasses Exhibition, Raiffeisen Gallery, Budapest, 2013
Ah, I can barely wait for the selections! Kass Gallery, Szeged, 2013
II Erzsébet Geronazzo Máriával a keleti nyitás politikája kapcsán titokban egyeztet a Külön Nemzeti Parkban., Godot Galéria, Budapest, 2013
Hollywood Behind the Iron Curtain, Suez Gallery, The Hague, 2014
Blue Danube travelling exhibition, at A38 venue, Budapest, 2015
You will recover! – M21 Gallery, Zsolnay Square, Pécs, 2016
Csipke Universe, Balassi Institute, Beijing, 2016
Karel Gott brings peace to the EU summit, Balassi Institute, Prague, 2016
Peace be with you! – Modem, Debrecen, 2017
Love never runs out! Godot Gallery, Budapest, 2017
Longing and Belonging, 10 Thousand Steps Gallery, New York, 2017
Most modernly ancient Hungarian, Cultiris Gallery, Budapest, 2018
Kisüt a nap! Rómer Flóris Museum, Győr, 2018
Group exhibitions (selection)
1992 Stumbling into crisis – 21. New Belgrade Salon, Great Hall of the Cultural Centre, Belgrade, 1992
1993 Contemporary Art from Yugoslavia, Budapest Gallery, Lajos Street Exhibition Hall, Budapest Polifonia, Site-specific Works and Installations, Budapest Gallery by Night, Studio Gallery, Budapest
1994 V=A•?, an exhibition of the Soros Foundation Contemporary Arts Centre, Csók István Gallery, Székesfehérvár 1995 Situation picture, Art Hall, Budapest
1997 Oil/Canvas, Museum, Budapest Trafik, Szombathely Gallery, Szombathely
1999 Erotica and sexuality in Hungarian visual art, Budapest Gallery, Budapest Life and Literature exhibition, Hungarian House, Berlin, Germany Ost-West, Frauenfeld, Switzerland
2000 Object Marathon, K. Bazovszky House, Budapest AND alimony, Water City Gallery, Budapest Juliettes Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2001 Common Symbol – The first Hungarian artist–logo exhibition, K. Bazovszky House, Budapest. Blaksheep, Worm, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
2002 Future Vision, Ernst Museum, Budapest, Csárdáskirály, Miskolc Gallery, Miskolc Science, Supamolly, Berlin, Germany
2003 Vision, Miskolc Gallery, Miskolc Vision, Szombathely Photo Archive, Szombathely AND-Donation, Collegium Hungaricum, Vienna, Austria
2004 Jövőkép, Hungarian Institute, Berlin, Germany Wired Banks, Las Palmas, Rotterdam, Holland
2005 Jövőkép, Hungarian Institute, Moscow, Russia Jövőkép, Roman Hungarian Academy, Rome, Italy Jövőkép, Hungarian Embassy, Athens, Greece
2006 Spring Idiot, Gallery IX, Budapest Vision, Hungarian Institute, Brussels, Belgium Wired Banks – Riverside Connections, Kiscelli Museum, Budapest
2007 Vision – Fabryka Trzciny, Warsaw Ufók – Szentendre Photo Centre, Szentendre Music and Painting – Millennium Reception Hall, Budapest
2008 TérErő – Műcsarnok, Budapest Tavaszi debil – Galéria IX, Budapest TérErő – Millenáris, Budapest
2009 Wheelchair, Waiting for Godot – Godot Gallery, Budapest Play 2 – Water City Gallery, Budapest Humour – City Museum, Szeged 10. birthday – House K. Petry, Budapest, 2009
2010 Futures View – Kulturni Centar Rex, Belgrade, Selected – Missionart gallery, Budapest Budapest – Ost Klub, Vienna CV – Mezőszemere Artists' Colony, Mezőszemere Let’s Sail! – A38, Budapest Ruins – Symposion Gallery, Szabadka
2011 Twenty‑year‑old New World emigration – A38 Exhibition venue, Budapest Portrait – MAMÜ, Budapest
2012 Collectors’ selection – Godot Gallery, Budapest Vajda Lajos Studio – Marosvásárhely Kutúrpalota, Marosvásárhely What is Hungarian? – Műcsarnok, Budapest
2013 exhibition of NKA award‑winners, Művészetmalom, Szentendre
2014-15 Utopia. Turning Point, Ludwig Museum, Budapest
Publications:
Vagonlakó – poems, Demizson Kiadványok, Novi Sad, 1981
Csipkehúsú – catalogue, Cultural Centre, Subotica, 1990
Atom, atom, that is my jaw – MK (Scientists), Black Hole/Fekete Lyuk, Budapest, 1991
Live‑Dead Room – graphic‑poetry album, Laza Lapok, Budapest, 1992
Don't get worked up, mind! – MK (Scholars), Bahia, Budapest, 1993
Munkahő – paintings, drawings, author’s edition, Budapest, 1994
Égevő – Visual Arts Literature Album (with Tibor Bada), Bahia, Budapest, 1995
Flying Science – CD, (Scientists), Bahia, Budapest, 1995
tisztAtiszt – CD‑ROM (Tudósok), Bahia, Budapest, 1997
Dobolok a gerincemen – CD-ROM (Tudósok), iNteRNeTTo, Budapest, 1998
Juggling with Light – a graphic‑poetic album, Leopold Bloom, Szombathely, 1998
Self‑study – CD (Scientists), HMK Music, Budapest, 1998
The plain is beautiful – a graphic and fine‑literary collection, Kalligram, Pozsony, 1998
Nice Plain – CD and book with the author's drawings and texts in English, (Scientists), Budapest, 1999
Space Books Madrigals – graphics, texts, Kalligram, Pressburg, 2001
Szupergyár – CD (Tudósok), Bahia–Recommended Records, Budapest, 2001
Vision – visual arts album, K. Petrys House, 2003
Saving as another – CD (Scientists), K. Petrys House, Budapest, 2003
Molotov cocktail with ice – essays, visual arts writing, Life and Literature, Budapest, 2004
Concrete Books, Budapest, 2004
I Live Science – CD (Tudósok), Bad Taste Records, Moscow, 2005
"Egy halott naplója – prózakötet, Noran, Budapest, 2005"
The Best of Disco by Tudósok – CD (Tudósok), A38, Budapest, 2006
Lipót – Test Edition, Noran, Budapest, 2007
Szombathy Bálint: drMáriás visual art – visual art album, A38, Budapest, 2007
Térerő – visual arts album, K. Petrys House 2008
Jedikém, gyere haza! – CD (Tudósok), A38, Budapest, 2008
David Ibolya's Secret Life – CD (Scientists), Playground Records, Budapest, 2009
Free‑hand Craftsman Sex – novel, Noran Publishing, Budapest, 2010
Sorry, may I kill you? CD (Tudósok), Alexandra, 2011
I cannot live without Milosevic – novel, Noran Kiadó, Budapest, 2011
25‑year‑old, the *Tudósok* – documentary and concert film – was produced by the Közgáz Visual Brigade and the A38, showcased on MTV 1, 2011
The Balkan Bowel – novel, Noran Publishing, Budapest, 2012
The most beautiful love songs – CD (Tudósok), Scientific Records, 2013
Link collection:
Official website: www.drmarias.hu
Catalogue in Hungarian and English: http://drmarias.hu/albumart/albumart.pdf
Facebook: www.facebook.com/drMarias
Wikipedia: http://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/DrM%C3%A1ri%C3%A1s
http://www.artpool.hu/video/dvd_list13.html
http://www.magyarszo.com/fex.page:2009-03-02_Ebredjetek_robotok.bot
http://www.es.hu/print.php?nid=21250
http://www.prae.hu/prae/news.php?menu_id=&aid=3133
http://www.kortars.com/0809/feketej.htm
http://exindex.hu/index.php?l=hu&page=3&id=72
Bibliography:
http://www.es.hu/gulyas_gabor;viseltes_idegrendszer;2011-05-05.html
http://cseppek.hu/rendezveny/1805drmarias-zambo-jimmy-kazimir-malevics-mutermeben
http://magyarnarancs.hu/kepzomuveszet/bokros-lajos-mint-sufniposzeidon-82299
http://www.magyarszo.com/hu/2008_11_08/kultura_irodalom/87234/
http://artportal.hu/aktualis/kiallitasok/kelemen_anna_farkabol_negymeteres_torgyan_jozsefszeru_aranyhalat_operalt_ki_a_k
http://artportal.hu/aktualis/hirek/najmanyi_laszlo_drmarias_szoernyu_kedvencei
http://www.kulturpart.hu/kepzo/25301/drmarias_bortonbe_kerult_londonban
http://artportal.hu/videok/drmarias_videobio_video_eletrajz
http://www.jbsz.hu/component/content/article/37-2009/994-az-apokalipszis-trubadorja-drmarias-portre.html
http://nol.hu/kult/20120803-kerlek_szepen__nem_lesz_ebbol_baj_
http://magyarnarancs.hu/kepzomuveszet/drmarias-77824
http://www.prae.hu/prae/articles.php?aid=5897&cat=2
http://prae.hu/prae/articles.php?aid=5402
http://www.bevezetem.hu/cikk/20-eves-az-ujvideki-emigracio
http://www.stop.hu/belfold/tizmillio-ember-reszketve-var-interju-drmarias-belaval/863773/
http://artportal.hu/aktualis/hirek/najmanyi_laszlo_drmarias_oesszmuveszete
http://hvg.hu/itthon/20111205_dr_marias_politikusportrek
http://prae.hu/prae/news.php?aid=3133
http://richardcourant.blogspot.hu/2006/11/drmris-az-ngyilkos-autszerel-narckpei.html
http://www.blikk.hu/blikk_aktualis/feloras-kiallitas-2082038
http://www.litera.hu/lathatas/drmarias-%E2%80%93-kiallitas-megnyito
http://img.alexandra.hu/images/marias.pdf
Exhibition moments
Images from a shared history
Solo and group exhibitions
Exhibitions at Godot 16
drMáriás: Éljen a diktatúra!
30 January 2026 – 14 June 2026
Godot Kortárs Művészeti Intézet
drMáriás: Jönnek a felszabadítók!
3 May 2023 – 3 June 2023
Godot Galéria
drMáriás - A kortárs művészet rontja a magyar emberek biztonságérzetét 2022-05-11 - 2022-06-15
11 May 2022 – 15 June 2022
Godot Galéria
Találkozások – Kacsuk Péter gyűjteménye
5 January 2022
Godot Galéria
II. Godot Kortárs Aukció és Kiállítás 2021-04-21 — 2021-05-03
21 April 2021 – 3 May 2021
Godot Galéria
drMáriás - Anarchy in the E.U. 2020-11-20 — 2020-12-19
20 November 2020 – 19 December 2020
Godot Galéria
Feltámadás júniusban2020-06-04 — 2020-06-20
4 June 2020 – 20 June 2020
Godot Galéria
ART AND ANTIQUE 2020 – a Godot Galéria részvétele
5 March 2020
Millenáris
drMáriás: Tavasz-Tündér-Találkozó 2019-03-28 — 2019-05-04
28 March 2019 – 4 May 2019
Godot Galéria
drMáriás: A szeretet soha el nem fogy!
26 October 2017 – 25 November 2017
Godot Galéria
Nagykarácsony - Kortárs műtárgyat karácsonyra II.
25 November 2016 – 18 December 2016
Godot Galéria
ART MARKET BUDAPEST 2016 – a Godot Galéria részvétele
13 October 2016
Millenáris
drMáriás: Ördögöt a falra!
3 September 2015 – 7 October 2015
Godot Galéria
ART MARKET BUDAPEST 2014 – a Godot Galéria részvétele
9 October 2014
Millenáris, B–C–D épület
drMáriás: II. Erzsébet titokban Geronazzo Máriával egyeztet a keleti nyitás politikájáról...
4 December 2013 – 4 January 2014
Godot Galéria
Kortárs magángyűjtemények XVII. – Gerendai Károly gyűjteménye
25 April 2012 – 26 May 2012
Godot Galéria