| KOKA FERENC
ART FOUNDATION |
| The Koka
Ferenc Art Foundation was created in 1997 to preserve the work. The chairperson
is Dr. Molnar Valeria. Contact the foundation at: Visegradi St 6, Budapest
XIII, Hungary |
|
|
KOKA FERENC
(1934-1997)
a biography, by Jay
Koka |
|
Koka Ferenc (Frank Koka) is my late uncle.
Some people have talent to spare. Some have so much
that they don't even know what to do with it. So it was with my uncle. A
brilliant painter, Feri was also a superb pianist creating a dilemma in his
early years on which career path he would follow.
World events would deny me the privilege of his
mentorship and the comfort of his friendship. The Hungarian Revolution of 1956
forced my father to leave Hungary and seek refuge in the west. While I'm
grateful for the tremendous advantages that growing up in Canada afforded me,
it sadly separated me from a companionship and tutelage... the value of which I
realized only in later years.
Separated by an ocean and the communist madness, I was only able to
see Feri in person a few times. But those few treasured conversations, his
comments on my work and the very example of his own had a tremendous impact on
my life. Sadly, just when I was starting to come into my own as a painter, Feri
was suddenly taken from us in, of all things, a car accident. He was taken from
me just when I started to realized how important he was both as my uncle and as
a painter.
Feri was born in
Budapest Hungary in 1934. He attained an advanced education in fine art and
worked under the Hungarian master Aurel Bernath. Feri's first one man show was
in 1969 and in 1972 he was awarded the Munkacsy Prize, one of the most coveted
awards in Hungarian art.
In 1980
he was honored with an individual retrospective exhibition at the palace of
Exhibitions in Budapest. 70 selected works gave a comprehensive review of 20
years of work.
His work was
exhibited at a number of international expositions throughout the 80's and 90's
including South America and numerous European locales such as Brussels and
Aachen.
In 1997, suddenly,
tragically a voice was silenced.
It is my honor to have known him and my privilege to present his
work.
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Balatoni
Karneval
(Carnival at Lake Balaton)
1967, oil, 100x140cm
Hungarian
National Gallery
|
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Alom es
valosag
(Dream and Reality)
1972, oil, 120x160cm
Hungarian
Cultural Ministry
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Kis
Ikarusz
(Little Icarus)
1975, oil, 50x65cm
Artist
Estate
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Furdoben
(In The Bath)
1989, pastel on paper,
30x40cm
Artist Estate
|
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Kretai
taj
(Landscape in Crete)
1989, pastel on paper, 70x100cm
Artist
Estate |
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|
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