Gizella Rákóczy is a defining figure of both Hungarian and international geometric art. From 1976 on, she constructed her systematic-variant images consisting of geometric motifs by starting from a single shape (a spiral) and following mathematical regularities. She created infinite series via reduplication, multiplication, rotation and mirroring. From 1998, her tempera paintings of the numerical laws of four-armed spirals were replaced by a new use of material and principle of mathematics: she started to layer her tones of watercolour, the transparent material, according to the mathematical formula of Fibonacci’s linear recursive sequence. Parallel to her watercolour series Rákóczy explored another theme: the cycle of the year. Instead of referring to the length of a day, the numbered unit of subjective and objective time, the title 24 N names the system derived from the six possible permutations of the four colours. When creating her works the artist used four colours (yellow, red, blue and green), and by performing all working stages manually, she layered the grid elements designed on paper by pencil, ruler or scalpel on top of each other with a brush. The discipline of drawing by hand, meticulous attention to detail and humility all contribute to the power of Rákóczy’s works.
Kriszta Dékei