Faces of the river. Faces by the river. János R. Szabó’s stories told through his photographs are written along the Öreg-Túr, a tributary of the Tisza. The series Stories Along the Öreg-Túr River is based on classic photographic genres inherited from painting, and the photo essay, consisting of portraits, landscapes and still lifes, depict the fate of the people living along the river.
Life in this region is as quiet and winding as the river that enters Hungary at its north-eastern border. In the villages, everyday life situations and activities revolving around work (fishing, animal husbandry, agriculture and forestry, construction) and recreation (bathing, conversations) become special moments as they are accentuated by János R. Szabó.
For the city dweller, the scenes and the landscape itself – often only imagined, rarely experienced, or only on holidays, rowing trips, and excursions – create an illusion of timelessness. However, we must not forget that the harmony and balance with nature is very fragile, which is why János R. Szabó’s fieldwork documenting the present becomes particularly important. The images do not only reveal and preserve how the villagers along the river live and what activities of often vanishing traditions they perform but they also reflect their values and emotions.
As the artist says about his work: “The presence of water can mean work, livelihood, recreation, fun, and hardships. I’m looking for personal stories and situations that show a particular way of connecting. From these stories, I would like to draw an overall picture that speaks about life along the river not only in a narrower sense but also more generally about the socio-historical context of the Öreg-Túr region. In addition, I would also like to present my own experiences, memories and my amateur interest in the environment and wildlife.
