Interview by GIULIA BERSANI — Images by MATE MORO
Fragmented spaces, floating bodies, interrupted surfaces. Máté Moro’s images seem to work like origami paper. The surface is ruled by lines and shapes, bodies fold and collapse onto themselves to create human hybrids. Colour is solid and vibrant, the images sharp and powerful. This is Máté Moro. The young Hungarian artist combines photography, fashion and graphic design, with the help of his precious creative partners, creating hyperreal and striking images. Here is what he told us about his work and creative process.
GIULIA B. — Hi Máté, let’s start from the basis: where are you from? How old are you? Tell us something curious about your daily life.
MÁTÉ M. — I was born in Hungary. I live and work in Budapest, but currently I’m in Zurich, doing a scholarship program. Life in Zurich is not so vibrant, so I’m making moodboards, preparing for two new shootings… In general I’m wondering on new ideas and trying to build up the brand of our new creative group together with two of my creative partners, Aron Filkey and Nora Gyenge.
GIULIA B. — The first spontaneous question I would like to ask you is: Do you have fun while shooting (or while planning on your photos)?
MÁTÉ M. — Shooting is the final step of the creative process, of course I love that period. To be on set is always a special uplifting time. But I also love figuring out the concept, the set, the props, the movements with our group. We always work as a team, organise brainstromings, share our sketches and ideas.
GIULIA B. — Is there a reflection (maybe about the human condition or about space and matter) in your photos or is the main subject rather aesthetics itself?
MÁTÉ M. — It depends on the work or request. If I create some kind of applied stuff the crucial issue is smart creativity and aesthetics, and of course to pay respect to the client’s expectations.
GIULIA B. — What about graphics? How important is the graphic component in your photos?
MÁTÉ M. — More than important! Áron Filkey is a really talented graphic designer, sharing ideas with each other is always a source of inspiration to me, and it influences the space of the image. Moreover, I love his visual style.
GIULIA B. — What about the fashion component? How do trends influence your work?
MÁTÉ M. — If I come across some inspiring piece of clothing or talented designer, I usually have a new image idea to go with it. But Nora is really the one who’s into clothes and trends. More than me. She has a really sensible view on clothes and on how they can work well in the concept.
GIULIA B. — What is the role of colours? Have you ever had a ‘black and white period’?
MÁTÉ M. — Yes, I have. If I run back over that period, I realise that it was just an attempt to find my way in the visual world. I like B&W pictures, but now I think more in color than in B&W. I feel that using colours gives much greater possibilities to create pretty nice stuff.
GIULIA B. — Is it possible, in your opinion, to conciliate work and personal passion in photography?
MÁTÉ M. — Totally. That’s what we do day by day… It’s kind of the key to success, I think.
GIULIA B. — Who or what influences you?
MÁTÉ M. — The biggest inspiration is always the new challenge of a new work request.
GIULIA B. — Now, here is my last curiosity: how much are your shootings controlled by your initial plan? What about improvisation?
MÁTÉ M. — I prefer to plan well everything before the shooting. When we are on set, we always have a tiny storyboard about the shooting, movements, space etc.. It makes the work faster and more efficient. And by the way these kind of sketches can be a springboard for improvisation…
matemoro.com
instagram.com/matemoro
May 2013