Charleroi (1946-1965):
a talented young man
Picture of Jóska Soós as miner, 1950
Due to the outbreak of World War II, Jóska had to leave Hungary. He was forced to work in Germany until the end of the war. Afterwards, as a result of the political changes, he was unable to return to Hungary for many years. In 1946 he moved to Charleroi in Belgium. There, he worked in the coal-mines of Marcinelle for about five years and became a Belgian citizen.
This period would have a great impact in his life. His extraordinary childhood made him susceptible for the effects of the deep darkness in the mines and slowly he started to experience altered states of consciousness in the dark environment. Drawing with crushed graphite - as a reference to the black dust in the mines - was a perfect expression of all his experiences. He had found a way to reflect upon his shamanic journeys. As such, this period can be considered as the starting point of his future work as a shamanic artist.
He took classes with local art teachers Ben Genaux and Marcel Delmotte, but declared himself autodidact. He exhibited his works for the first time in 1950. Many exhibits were still to come, along with the attention of the local media.
Jóska Soós, "Cabal", 1950 |
Jóska Soós, "Les Amoureuses", 1949 |
Jóska Soós, "Je suis la Résurrection et la Vie", 1950 |
Picture of the artist at work. |
Colofon
Archive en documentation:
Monique Franken
Scientific editor &
Website Design:
INTRO Cultuur & Media
Hungarian translation:
Réka Deuten-Makkai
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