Since my late high school – early univesrity years, I am pulling towards underground subcultures, which, as the name predicts, are not really basing their self-expressionism on mainstream ‘values’. So I was starting to diverge from them as well as a fresh adult, and this principle accompanied me on my way of self-exploration.

But the strongest influences were happening to me in the last few years, which showed me that there are ways and worlds, ideas and currents deviating from the ordinary, habitual schools of arts and their ‘rules’. I have never been to Burning Man (bucket list item undoubtedly), but the way how things are in there, is deeply resonating with me for a long time. The level of freedom, individuality and respect that forms the base of that temporary society is absolutely jaw dropping, and leads to such unique vibes, I can’t stand staring at these hypnotic videos of it for hours.

I started to embrace depictions that are ‘a bit off’ and ‘uncomfortable’ while watching the unusual photography of Mr. Robot, realizing how powerful of visual storytelling and showcasing emotional states it could be, to break rules, and do something that differs. But I could also mention the quirky pictures of Wes Anderson, the perspectives of Kubrick, the grandiose, thrilling total shots of Denis Villeneuve, or the A24 movies, of which every piece has that unique atmosphere, cinematography and pacing, that not only resonates with Arthouse Cinema heads, but gives usual film-goers unusual experiences, that stick with them.

In 2023, I was scrolling through an urbex photography group, where a bunch of pictures about an abandoned power plant caught my attention. Turned out it was the Inota power plant in Hungary, where Blade Runner 2049 was partially shot. I googled it for more pictures, and immediately found out, that there is going to be an audiovisual art festival held in there that summer. I needed to be there. I managed to participate as a volunteer, and I must say, that week was one of the most important and most memorable week of my life. What I encountered in there was nothing I ever experienced before; the abandoned area of the industrial buildings were perfectly resurrected with precisely designed, thought-out, thought-provoking light art and installations, as if it were an other planet. The gigantic halls, columns, stairs and robust metal and concrete elements of this brutalist wonder were perfectly filled up with soundscape and atmosphere, excitingly used to enhance the experience of top-notch electronic music delivered by highly-acclaimed artists. I was new to electronic music that summer, but this opened up my eyes and led me into the beautiful transcendence of techno, and its culture – that turned out, is way more and way deeper, than just people floating around laser beams. It was perfect. Everything and everyone was in synergy, and it produced a type of energy in the air, you definitely can’t avoid to feel. Everything from the texture of the air through the gigantic spaces and their ratios to the tiny people becoming one with it. The hypnotic light accompanying the sounds of something greater than us. I found myself. It all matched up. And I can describe these jointly with one term: Atmosphere. That’s why I mainly call my style Atmosphere photography.

After I got home from the festival, I wanted to call my mother for 2 minutes, just to tell her I’m ok, but this turned into an unexpected burst out of feelings, thoughts, tears – the whole experience was so intense and so self-defining, I couldn’t help, just cry and talk about it for 2 hours to my Mom.

It was a paradigm shift for me. Suddenly I knew where I belong, what really interests me, and how do I want to be the part of it. (And guess what; it coincides with the audiovisual characteristics of those movies…)
Therefore, I date the founding of my own, true way and artistic identity back to INOTA Festival 2023.