An art residency offers artists a rare chance to step away from their usual surroundings and immerse themselves in a new environment—an experience that can be both inspiring and challenging. Artists often draw deeply from their environment and cultural background, and relocating—even temporarily—can disrupt familiar routines and provoke new ways of seeing. Some believe, as Henri Matisse once hinted, that “creativity takes courage,” especially when removed from the comfort of one’s own studio. Vincent van Gogh’s time in Arles, for example, profoundly shaped his use of color and light, showing how place can transform an artist’s vision. Similarly, the great Hungarian painter Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka, who began his career as a pharmacist before turning to art after a visionary experience, found inspiration during his extensive travels across the Mediterranean and the Middle East—journeys that deeply influenced his dreamlike, symbolic landscapes. While some argue that great art can only emerge from the artist’s home studio, residencies challenge this idea, inviting reflection, experimentation, and often unexpected growth in both process and perspective.

At the Art Colony, the results speak for themselves: the change of environment, the unique Hungarian landscape, the atmosphere of the small village, and even the difference in sunlight have had a profound impact on visiting artists. Immersed in this new context, many artists find their palette, style, and themes subtly or even dramatically transformed. The artworks presented here are clear evidence of this influence—they reflect fresh perspectives, unexpected color harmonies, and narratives shaped by the rhythms and textures of their temporary surroundings.

At the opening of one of our exhibitions in Budapest, leading Hungarian art historian Dr. Balázs Feledy remarked on the powerful influence the new environment had on the participating artists. Some were so deeply affected that they physically incorporated elements of Hungary into their work—mixing local soil into their paint or using discarded objects to make direct references to Hungarian history and identity. Others drew inspiration from the village itself, depicting local landmarks such as the church, the castle, and even the Hungarian crown, weaving the essence of place into their artistic narratives.

Other artists chose to continue exploring their own themes, yet their work naturally shifted under the influence of the new setting. Many noted that they couldn’t escape the overwhelming presence of the Hungarian landscape, with its countless shades of green and yellow subtly transforming their color palettes and leaving a lasting imprint on their visual language.

Perhaps the most evocative reflection on the contrast between home and residency can be seen in Amjad Ghannam’s painting, where two worlds quietly coexist within a single canvas. On the left, a stark, closed architectural form rendered in grey evokes stillness and introspection—possibly a metaphor for the artist’s inner space or his memories of Jerusalem, his native city. On the right, the composition opens into a textured, dreamlike rural scene, filled with layered shades of blue, green, and yellow, abstractly suggesting rooftops, fields, and light. The difference in rhythm, color, and atmosphere between the two sides reveals the tension—and dialogue—between the familiar and the foreign, between memory and immediate experience.

These works also open a space for dialogue between cultures. They are not only meaningful for the traditional audiences familiar with each artist’s work in their home country, but also speak to new viewers encountering them at the residency’s final exhibition. This cross-cultural encounter—through art—encourages mutual understanding and offers fresh interpretations on both sides, enriching the experience of creation and appreciation alike.

We invite viewers to experience these artworks firsthand and discover the diverse ways in which each artist responded to their time at the Art Colony. Whether through shifts in color, the use of local materials, or reflections on identity and place, these creations offer a rich and layered dialogue between cultures.

Amir A. Abdi