Boglárka Tóth – Rainbow
The second bull at Paradise as part of the Bulls in the City art trail has been sponsored by Two Chamberlain Square-based international law firm DLA Piper and will also raise funds for Birmingham Hospice.
Created by Boglárka Tóth, Rainbow is a statement piece about the city. Studying Fine Art at the Bristol School of Art, Boglárka found her artistic voice and developed her own unique style before moving to Birmingham. She says: “Birmingham is a super-diverse place where people can naturally be themselves and I wanted my bull to celebrate that freedom of expression, especially here at Paradise which is such a timeless place, where centuries-old buildings and Victorian institutions mix with innovative, modern spaces.”
Boglárka’s abstract practice is rooted in her cultural heritage, including her rural upbringing in North-East Hungary surrounded by lush nature including hills, forest and farmland.
She says that her intuitive creative process serves as an opportunity for reflection and meaning-making through transformative learning. “Art should be playful as well as thoughtful,” Boglárka suggests, adding: “It’s not always about finding underlying meaning, although those references are there for those who want to explore them. But art should be an ‘as you find it’ experience too and open to instant, fun and instinctive reactions.
My concept here at Paradise is to be reflective of Birmingham itself and celebrate its diversity while also paying homage to its architecture, with the arts and crafts traditions of the Victorian period a particular theme.
“I also want my abstract style to lean into colour, with 20 different shades used on the bull – hence the Rainbow name. I want it to really make people feel positive about the place in which they live.”
Rainbow will be available for all to see, enjoy and visit in Chamberlain Square from 16 July until 14 September. To find out more about the Bulls in the City art trail, and to learn more about the fantastic work of Birmingham Hospice, visit www.birminghamhospice.org.uk/trail/