Opening: October 27, 2026, 18:00
We warmly invite you to the opening of PLACES, a solo exhibition by Austrian artist Manfred Makra at Apollo Gallery!
Some paintings tell stories; others open a gateway to another world. Manfred Makra’s paintings belong to the latter. Delicately layered fields of colour, geometric forms and almost imperceptible transitions give rise to inner landscapes that exist beyond geographical coordinates.
A defining moment in the artistic development of the Austrian artist, who has been working for more than four decades, was his encounter with Antonio Calderara, whose influence marked his turn towards abstraction. His work is rooted in the traditions of twentieth-century geometric abstraction, Concrete and Constructive art, and Colour Field painting, while exploring the intellectual possibilities of line, colour and geometric order. This artistic approach also connects his work to that of Tamás Konok, with whom he shared a close personal friendship.
In Makra’s paintings, colours take on a life of their own. Paint, frequently applied in twenty to twenty-five layers, together with delicate translucent glazes, creates a sense of depth, while geometric forms and subtle colour transitions almost imperceptibly transform the flat surface into a spatial experience. Although his compositions are carefully structured, intuition also plays an important role: colours give rise to one another, much like the notes of a musical composition.
The spiritual dimension of his painting is enriched by both Japanese art and the tradition of Eastern Christian icons. The simplicity of Japanese Noh theatre and the aesthetics of rhythm and emptiness find echoes in his paintings, as does the understanding of icons as passages between the visible and the invisible.
The PLACES exhibition invites visitors to step beyond the hurried rhythms of everyday life and allow themselves the time to truly see. Through slow, attentive contemplation, Makra’s paintings become spaces in which the viewer’s own memories, emotions and thoughts may resonate.
Exhibiting artist: Manfred Makra
Exhibition curator and author of the text: Krisztina Kovács
Assistant curator: Eszter Hannya, Marcella Koczkás
Graphic design:Nóra Kaszanyi, Adrienn Császár
Opening remarks by: Fabian Ortner, Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum Budapest.
Venue: Apollo Gallery, bejárat a Stáhly utca felől, 1085 Budapest, Blaha Lujza tér 1
The exhibition will be on view from October 28 to November 27, 2026, during the gallery’s opening hours.
Please note that photography, video and audio recordings may be made during the event and may be used on our website and social media channels.
