Memories of a remarkable childhood inspire Roland's work

Roland Farkas, a graduating Fine Art student at AKI ArtEZ Academy of Art & Design in Enschede, grew up in Slovakia as part of two minority groups: Hungarian and Roma. “Growing up in difficult economic conditions, I felt quite isolated in my own country because of my ethnicity”, says Roland. How have these childhood experiences influenced his art today? 

“My father worked as a basket weaver in the winter, and my mother sold the baskets door to door. In the summer, we lived off the land, eating cherries, pears, and apples. We also received a small government allowance.” As a child, Roland spent a lot of time outdoors, playing with leftover willow branches from his father’s basket weaving and drawing plants and animals. “I’ve always felt the urge to create”, he recalls. 

Working in hospitality 

Despite this creative streak, Roland initially didn’t consider pursuing art. At nineteen, he moved to Oxford to work in the hospitality sector. Four years later, a Dutch friend helped him find a job in a hotel restaurant in Emmen. “My colleagues welcomed me warmly, and I felt like I could stay in the Netherlands for a while. At the same time, I was often thinking about my future, asking myself what I really wanted to do with my life.” 

Choosing art 

Roland eventually realised he wanted to study art. “I was curious about what I had inside me, how I could translate that into art, and share it with others. I wanted to develop as freely as possible. Fine Art in Enschede seemed to offer the best opportunities for that.” He applied for the course, despite some reservations. “I still had to work in the hotel to support my mother financially. And I had no background in art.”

Expressing what lives inside you through art

To his surprise, Roland was accepted, though he had to pass an English proficiency test first. He recalls feeling incredibly challenged at the start of his studies, but "highly encouraged at the same time. I always doubted my ideas: were they too cliché or unrefined? Did people even want to see my work? The teachers convinced me not to let my doubts hold me back and just get to work.” He encourages new students to do the same: “Don’t be afraid to express what lives inside you through your art.” 

Connecting with materials 

Over time, Roland discovered more about what he wants to convey with his work and how to do it. “I want to tell stories based on my childhood memories and connect these stories with the materials I work with, such as willow branches, copper, and textiles. I try to start a ‘conversation’ with these materials: do they resonate with my ideas? But I also look at what the material has to tell me. This creates a form of ‘communication.’ This approach leads to various visual forms, including sculptures and drawings.” 

Love for performance art 

In his second year, Roland became fascinated with performance art. “It’s not on our curriculum, but I got captivated by it through participating in an art project in Okkenbroek”, he explains. “There, I showed my work publicly for the first time and met a performance artist. Thanks to her, I discovered I could add the element of ‘movement’ to my work; this felt very natural to me.” Recently, Roland’s mother visited the Netherlands for the first time. “I asked her to participate in a performance so she could experience it herself,” he shares. “Luckily, she said yes! It was very special to share this together.” 

Connecting with others 

Roland recently participated in a Fine Art exhibition at the Concordia art space. “I combined stories, sculptures, and drawings to tell a new story about my childhood”, he explains. Roland finds it important for others to connect with his work. He shares a touching example: “At the Concordia exhibition, a group of teenagers entered the space. They translated the existing work into their own drawings. I found that super inspiring to see.” Currently, Roland is busy with his graduation project, building on his previous work. “I need my current work to move forward. A story always has multiple layers, which can be expressed in many works. These often lead to a new performance.” 

Far from finished with learning 

The most important thing Roland has learned during his studies, “without a doubt," he says, "is why I do what I do. And also: I learned to produce a lot, critically reflect, and maintain an open and investigative approach.” Roland is far from finished with learning. After graduating, he will start a master’s course. “I’m really looking forward to it!” 

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