BIography

Voka, born 1965, lives and works in the Lower Austrian town of Puchberg am Schneeberg. He coined the term "Spontaneous Realism" as a trademark for his art. Voka defines this style as a revival of the significance of contemporary art, a valued tradition in a new era, with a new interpretation reflecting today ́s spirit of the time. His distinctive style, emerging from the dynamic of the moment, enables him to strikingly capture immediate reality while the observer is able to palpably feel the imbedded movement. His ability to create one of his paintings in a short space of time and with great dynamic, he explained in a very simple way ́I have dealt with painting for a very, very long time in a very slowly and intensively way.`

The basis of his artistic creations is rooted in a decade-long altercation with the art of realism. He researched the technique of the old masters and appropriated them into his own intensive self-study. It was his first contact with watercolour that made him realise that working quickly - which he was almost forced to do when working outside as the colours dry so quickly - could give his stroke more momentum and therefore enormous dynamic. With the discovery of acrylic he was able to allow his solid basic knowledge of, not only the meticulousness and `heavy`art of oil painting but also the `light`and rapid technique of watercolour painting, to flow together to discover and develop his own style of Spontaneous Realism. 

BIOGRAFIE

1965 geboren, lebt und arbeitet VOKA in Puchberg am Schneeberg/Nö. Als Markenzeichen für seine Kunst prägte er den Begriff "Spontanrealismus", unter dem er die wiederentdeckte Ernsthaftigkeit in der zeitgenössischen Kunst verstanden wissen will. Mit einem unverwechselbaren Malstil, der sich aus der Dynamik des Augenblickes entwickelt, vermittelt er traditionelle, in der Kunst gültige Werte in einer neuen, dem Zeitgeist entsprechenden Interpretation. Seine Bilder befinden sich in Sammlungen rund um den Globus, wurden auf Ausstellungen in Florida, England, Moskau und der EU gezeigt und werden bei internationalen Kunstauktionen gehandelt.

SPontaneous realism

If you look in a dictionary for the word spontaneous you will find definitions like, "rising from a momentary impulse without conscious reflection", or, "not apparently contrived or anipulated: natural" or "often surprising for the surrounding environment". Looking at Voka's paintings from this vantage point, makes this newly created expression a more than meaningful description of his work. If one has the opportunity or chance to watch the painter while he is in the act of creating his work, and see – or better, experience – the immediacy, vigor and enthusiasm with which Voka creates his paintings, then this simple expression, spontaneous realism, conveys a defining emotion. And this is exactly the moment where his art begins. Voka's inspirations are the everyday events of daily life, the seemingly hidden, though omnipresent.

"The motif is not the deciding factor for me, but rather my motivation behind it."He tries to capture with his paintings, snapshot-like, the things that touch him, whatever the reason for it might be.The basis of Voka's artistic abilities is rooted in his longstanding creative challenge with the art of realism. This intimate knowledge combined with his technical skills and artistic talent enables him to react spontaneously to the unforeseen. Only those who know the entiretycan reduce it to the essence. It is for Voka like a walk through memory lane, wherein he modifies his memories, intensifies them and arranges them anew until they transform into somethingconcrete. This could be rays of light, a group of people or an inspiring color accent in a specific location. Everything else serves only as a frame that helps accentuate the main theme. Voka's hands are dancing so fast over the canvas that it almost seems like he puts himself under pressure. An imaginary race begins in which the thought competes with the actual act of painting. It is an interplay in which the idea is just a breath ahead of the brush stroke. "Every painting is an impulsive challenge that starts with a first idea and ends with the final brush stroke, and each brush stroke decides over victory or defeat."What attracts Voka is the depiction of the unforeseen.He calls it also a dialogue with colors where pure chance always has a right to answer, too."If I knew in advance how the finished painting would look, it would be too boring to paint it in the first place." 

SPONTANREALISMUS

Schlägt man in Wörterbüchern unter "spontan" nach, so findet man Definitionen wie "plötzlich“, „einem inneren Antrieb folgend", "ohne bewusste Überlegung" oder "für die Umgebung oft überraschend". Betrachtet man unter diesen Aspekten die Gemälde des Künstlers, so ist dieser Neologismus, der das Wissen über die Techniken aus der Öl-, Aquarell- und Acrylmalerei harmonisch vereint, weit mehr als nur aussagekräftig. Seine Bilder entwickeln sich spontan, denn der Künstler folgt seinem inneren Antrieb, verlässt sich auf seine momentane Gefühlslage und überrascht mit Bildern, die zwar nach realen Vorbildern suchen, jedoch aus der momentanen Intuition entstehen. Hat man die Möglichkeit, dem Maler während der Arbeit über die Schulter zu schauen und sieht man - oder besser noch erlebt man- mit welcher Schnelligkeit, welchem Schwung und welcher Begeisterung eines seiner Werke entsteht, so wird aus diesem simplen Wort „Spontanrealismus“ eine Emotion. Nicht das Motiv ist für ihn ausschlaggebend, sondern seine Motivation dahinter! Er versucht in seinen Bildern Momentaufnahmen, die ihn berühren – aus welchem Grund auch immer - festzuhalten.

I like the colorful and dynamic paintings of Voka. He is one of the few artists who can portray not only movement and power but also emotion and enthusiasm.”

Mir gefällt die farbige und dynamische Malerei von Voka. Er ist einer der wenigen, der nicht nur die Bewegung und Kraft, sondern auch Emotion in seinen Bildern festhalten kann.

Frank Stronach
Magna International

No other artist is able to capture a 'moment in time' of sport highlights on canvas like Voka. I am delighted that Voka supports the Franz Beckenbauer-Foundation with his paintings.

Keinem anderen Künstler gelingt es, Momentaufnahmen sportlicher Leistungen so auf Leinwand zu bannen, wie Voka. Es freut mich, dass er mit seinen Bildern die Franz Beckenbauer Stiftung unterstützt.

Franz Beckenbauer
Football Legend

Voka's realistic style of painting with its intensely colourful and vibrant subject matter reflects today's life in its entirety from the hustle and bustle of both cities to the calmness of leisure time and every day living. The artist is able to create positive emotions through his paintings.

Die realistische Malerei Vokas gibt mit ihren farbintensiven, vitalen Motiven das heutige Leben in seiner gesamten Spannbreite zwischen dem Trubel der Metropolen, den Ruhepolen der Freizeit und dem Alltag wieder.
Voka schafft es, mit seinen Bildern positive Emotionen zu schaffen.

Mag. Peter Bogner
Director of the House of Artists Vienna

Voka is a contemporary artist who has found his way. An excellent draftsman, for I would say his paintings are drawings with a brush and paint. They are spontaneous snapshots from our time, held for future generations. Voka paints with his heart and soul. The best conditions for a successful future.

Voka ist ein zeitgenössischer Maler, der seinen Weg gefunden hat. Ein hervorragender Zeichner, denn ich würde sagen, seine Bilder sind Zeichnungen mit Pinsel und Farbe. Sie sind spontane Momentaufnahmen aus unserer Zeit, festgehalten für kommende Generationen. Voka malt mit Herz und Seele. Die besten Voraussetzungen für eine erfolgreiche Zukunft.

Karl Pallauf
Friend and art collector

Exhibitions / Ausstellungsauszug

ART FAIRS / Kunstmessen

Publications / Puplicationen

Lecturer of fine art / Dozent für Malerei