ISTVAN MIZERAK,
by all accounts an esteemed photojournalist, was also a quality fine art photographer in Hungary in the second half of the 20th century. He could not, and did not, wish to identify with the Communist political ideology of his times, but his strong patriotism prevented him from seeking his fortune abroad. He kept his distance from the political elite, both literally and figuratively: he was not a member of any political party. As a talented photographer, he had plenty of opportunities to gain more professional recognition, but his personal integrity was more important to him than fame.
Mizerak was born in Ózd on 19 December 1942. His parents left their native highlands when their hometown was annexed to Czechosolovakia, settling in Sajóvárkony, the first town on the Hungarian border. It was here that Mizerak would get his education. As a self-taught photograper, it was clear from the start that this was his true profession.
The magical „world of light” captured him at a young age, beginning with stagelights. He was a brilliant actor, singer and dancer. Mizerak had great success acting in the local theater, where he would later also direct. After completing his military service in Lillafüred, Mizerak started working as a cultural developer, but his passion for photography was soon to take center stage in his life.
He got his first camera at the age of nine, trading his necklace for it. He took photography very seriously from the first moment onwards. He developed his films and printed his photos by himself. Mizerak’s career took off in 1966 when he participated in a photograpy contest with pseudonym „Finita” and won second place for his picture. This would be no early finale; on the contrary, it was the start of something wonderful that would become his vocation for a lifetime.
Ózd, due to its extensive iron and steel production, was a rich and vibrant city in those years. The image of the city as it is occasionally portrayed in the news today is unfortunately light years from the reality of that time. The metallurgical plant of Ózd was the beating heart of the city that provided work for a wide variety of people, including the young Istvan Mizerak, who got his first job here as a photographer. In the position of “protocol photographer” he didn’t mean to surrender to the "top dogs" parade. In his photographs from this period, the themes of power and political charge are almost absent, commonly presented only in ironic forms. On the contrary, while strolling through the steel factory’s halls, he took beautiful pictures of simple workers in the blaze of hot iron. Mizerak was able to see the beauty in the raw geometry of the surrounding industrial landscape. If we look at the body of Mizerak’s work, a substantial portion of his photos represent metallurgy and iron workers. But, even from a historical perspective, no words like "proletarian" or "building communism" come to one’s mind. Rather, emphasis was more commonly placed on imagery centering around thoughts of human dignity and the heroism of the almost unthinkable working conditions of pre-robotic industrial production and the beauty of raw iron.
In 1968, Mizerak became a correspondent for the Hungarian News Agency (MTI) which, by his own admission, meant a huge school of professional growth to him. Over the coming years, Mizerak published his photos in almost every Hungarian national newspaper. The local daily paper, “Ózdi Vasas” and regional newspaper „Észak-magyarország” would regularly publish his writings as well. He exhibited his photos on a number of occasions, in Hungary and abroad, and won numerous awards and prizes during this period. He received a number of proposals over the years, along with promises of better living and working conditions, but his dignity was always stronger than the temptation.
A love of nature accompanied him throughout his life. A passionate hunter, Mizerak spent almost every weekend in the woods, and bore a wealth of hysterical hunting anecdotes. Mizerak was also a member of the Hungarian Ornithological Society. His pictures of the National Park of Aggtelek served for many years to promote the nature reserve, which is part of UNESCO’s Patrimony of Humanity.
In the second half of the nineties, his health began to decline and his eyesight strongly deteriorated. This is a brutal slap in the face for a photographer as one cannot correct blurred vision with a camera lens. However, Mizerak never stopped taking pictures, continuing to do so until the last day of his life. This was not only his work but his vocation, up to the end.
István Mizerák's life is exemplary. He created “European standing” art in the rural Communist countryside at a time when that expression had not even been invented. The images he has left us have lost none of their authenticity.
He was a Photographer. Could not have been anything else.
by all accounts an esteemed photojournalist, was also a quality fine art photographer in Hungary in the second half of the 20th century. He could not, and did not, wish to identify with the Communist political ideology of his times, but his strong patriotism prevented him from seeking his fortune abroad. He kept his distance from the political elite, both literally and figuratively: he was not a member of any political party. As a talented photographer, he had plenty of opportunities to gain more professional recognition, but his personal integrity was more important to him than fame.
Mizerak was born in Ózd on 19 December 1942. His parents left their native highlands when their hometown was annexed to Czechosolovakia, settling in Sajóvárkony, the first town on the Hungarian border. It was here that Mizerak would get his education. As a self-taught photograper, it was clear from the start that this was his true profession.
The magical „world of light” captured him at a young age, beginning with stagelights. He was a brilliant actor, singer and dancer. Mizerak had great success acting in the local theater, where he would later also direct. After completing his military service in Lillafüred, Mizerak started working as a cultural developer, but his passion for photography was soon to take center stage in his life.
He got his first camera at the age of nine, trading his necklace for it. He took photography very seriously from the first moment onwards. He developed his films and printed his photos by himself. Mizerak’s career took off in 1966 when he participated in a photograpy contest with pseudonym „Finita” and won second place for his picture. This would be no early finale; on the contrary, it was the start of something wonderful that would become his vocation for a lifetime.
Ózd, due to its extensive iron and steel production, was a rich and vibrant city in those years. The image of the city as it is occasionally portrayed in the news today is unfortunately light years from the reality of that time. The metallurgical plant of Ózd was the beating heart of the city that provided work for a wide variety of people, including the young Istvan Mizerak, who got his first job here as a photographer. In the position of “protocol photographer” he didn’t mean to surrender to the "top dogs" parade. In his photographs from this period, the themes of power and political charge are almost absent, commonly presented only in ironic forms. On the contrary, while strolling through the steel factory’s halls, he took beautiful pictures of simple workers in the blaze of hot iron. Mizerak was able to see the beauty in the raw geometry of the surrounding industrial landscape. If we look at the body of Mizerak’s work, a substantial portion of his photos represent metallurgy and iron workers. But, even from a historical perspective, no words like "proletarian" or "building communism" come to one’s mind. Rather, emphasis was more commonly placed on imagery centering around thoughts of human dignity and the heroism of the almost unthinkable working conditions of pre-robotic industrial production and the beauty of raw iron.
In 1968, Mizerak became a correspondent for the Hungarian News Agency (MTI) which, by his own admission, meant a huge school of professional growth to him. Over the coming years, Mizerak published his photos in almost every Hungarian national newspaper. The local daily paper, “Ózdi Vasas” and regional newspaper „Észak-magyarország” would regularly publish his writings as well. He exhibited his photos on a number of occasions, in Hungary and abroad, and won numerous awards and prizes during this period. He received a number of proposals over the years, along with promises of better living and working conditions, but his dignity was always stronger than the temptation.
A love of nature accompanied him throughout his life. A passionate hunter, Mizerak spent almost every weekend in the woods, and bore a wealth of hysterical hunting anecdotes. Mizerak was also a member of the Hungarian Ornithological Society. His pictures of the National Park of Aggtelek served for many years to promote the nature reserve, which is part of UNESCO’s Patrimony of Humanity.
In the second half of the nineties, his health began to decline and his eyesight strongly deteriorated. This is a brutal slap in the face for a photographer as one cannot correct blurred vision with a camera lens. However, Mizerak never stopped taking pictures, continuing to do so until the last day of his life. This was not only his work but his vocation, up to the end.
István Mizerák's life is exemplary. He created “European standing” art in the rural Communist countryside at a time when that expression had not even been invented. The images he has left us have lost none of their authenticity.
He was a Photographer. Could not have been anything else.
AWARDS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
1966 His photograph under the pseudonym "Finita" is awarded at the photo competition in Ózd.
1969 With his photo «Rulls» he wins the second place in the photo contest of MUNKA magazine.
1970 In the photo contest of MUNKA magazine, his photo «The great moment» wins the special prize of the Textile Workers' Union. At the same time, «Bridge builders» receives the special prize from the Trade and Catering Workers' Union, and «Steel founders » receives the second prize of MUNKA magazine.
1970 His photo entitled «125 years of ÓKÜ» is awarded at the Photo Exhibition of Northern Hungary.
1977 The Municipal Council of Ózd awarded him the medal "For the community".
1979 Silver medal of UNESCO at the 1979 International Year of Children competition for the photograph «The cradle of humanity».
1979 Commemorative certificate for participation in the "About children - for children" competition held as part of the International Year of Children.
1980 Two of his shots win prizes in the photo contest "Water in our lives".
1980 In the photo contest entitled "Environmental damage", his photo «Apocalypse» wins the audience prize and the first prize of the Hungarian Photographers' Association.
1982 At the Second Environmental Photography Competition held in Szolnok, the photo titled «Contrast» wins the audience's prize and «Legacy» the special jury prize.
1982 His photo «Contrast» received the International Photo Award at the Vítkovice Photosalon in Czechoslovakia.
1986 Award of Excellence for his outstanding working and creative performance at the Metallurgical Industries of Ózd.
1989 Certificate of recognition from the Hungarian Red Cross for the help provided to Hungarians in need in Transylvania during the revolution in December 1989.
1990 The Hungarian Red Cross awards him "for his financial sacrifice to help the Romanian people and for his selfless social work between 23 and 31 December 1989".
1997 Received a certificate for his excellent community work from the Independent Electoral Cooperation.
2010 On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the 1989 revolution, he receives a posthumous commemorative plaque from the mayor of Ózd.
2013 The Olvasó Cultural Center in Ózd dedicates a hall to István Mizerak, a permanent exhibition space with a selection of his most iconic photographs. The permanent photo exhibition and hall was inaugurated by Zsolt Szamódy, President of the Association of Hungarian Photographers.
1966 His photograph under the pseudonym "Finita" is awarded at the photo competition in Ózd.
1969 With his photo «Rulls» he wins the second place in the photo contest of MUNKA magazine.
1970 In the photo contest of MUNKA magazine, his photo «The great moment» wins the special prize of the Textile Workers' Union. At the same time, «Bridge builders» receives the special prize from the Trade and Catering Workers' Union, and «Steel founders » receives the second prize of MUNKA magazine.
1970 His photo entitled «125 years of ÓKÜ» is awarded at the Photo Exhibition of Northern Hungary.
1977 The Municipal Council of Ózd awarded him the medal "For the community".
1979 Silver medal of UNESCO at the 1979 International Year of Children competition for the photograph «The cradle of humanity».
1979 Commemorative certificate for participation in the "About children - for children" competition held as part of the International Year of Children.
1980 Two of his shots win prizes in the photo contest "Water in our lives".
1980 In the photo contest entitled "Environmental damage", his photo «Apocalypse» wins the audience prize and the first prize of the Hungarian Photographers' Association.
1982 At the Second Environmental Photography Competition held in Szolnok, the photo titled «Contrast» wins the audience's prize and «Legacy» the special jury prize.
1982 His photo «Contrast» received the International Photo Award at the Vítkovice Photosalon in Czechoslovakia.
1986 Award of Excellence for his outstanding working and creative performance at the Metallurgical Industries of Ózd.
1989 Certificate of recognition from the Hungarian Red Cross for the help provided to Hungarians in need in Transylvania during the revolution in December 1989.
1990 The Hungarian Red Cross awards him "for his financial sacrifice to help the Romanian people and for his selfless social work between 23 and 31 December 1989".
1997 Received a certificate for his excellent community work from the Independent Electoral Cooperation.
2010 On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the 1989 revolution, he receives a posthumous commemorative plaque from the mayor of Ózd.
2013 The Olvasó Cultural Center in Ózd dedicates a hall to István Mizerak, a permanent exhibition space with a selection of his most iconic photographs. The permanent photo exhibition and hall was inaugurated by Zsolt Szamódy, President of the Association of Hungarian Photographers.