Haris, László: Confrontation-action: Double portrait (1973 / 2012)

László HARIS's Double Portrait was made in 1973, when his friend, Sándor Csutoros’ wife was sentenced to imprisonment without reason in a years-long medical lawsuit in Gyöngyös. Double Portrait shows the painted fingertips of the couple's thumbs, on a very large scale. László Haris made several abstract photographs at the time using this technique. Painted fingertips refer to fingerprints that depersonalize people. At the same time, every person has a unique fingerprint, so it is also our most personal part. The fingers on the picture are separated by a dark bar, indicating that the two people belonging to each another will soon have to break apart. The series Confrontation 1-7. show the documentation of the action reflecting on the Gyöngyös medical trial and the abrupt shutting down of the Balatonboglár Chapel Exhibitions in 1973. The double photo was hung in the place where the altar of the chapel would normally be; the walls were covered with black veils, indicating the absence of artworks displayed at the exhibits.

S. Zs.