Interview with Dr. Judit Bodnár, Artist and Scientist

Hello, Judit! Thank you for agreeing to be part of the Interview with a Creator feature within The Creating Room! For our readers, you and I met on the online evening (CET) gatherings highlighting our philosophical, psychological and spiritual group. These meetings are led by our mutual friend, Austrian and Modern Elder, Dieter Langenecker.

1. What was your earliest memory of creative activities? How has that memory impacted you as your artist self today?

At age six I decided to become a doctor. However, as an only child until age ten, I was often drawing alone. Having two enthusiastic and dedicated teachers of drawing and singing gave me the gift of music and arts. Developing my self-knowledge, I re-birthed my painting journey using it as therapy after the early death of my husband. Besides hiking in nature, painting helped with my awareness of the meaning and beauty of life intertwined within my soul.

2. What mediums do you paint in? Do you prefer one over other? What inspires you when you paint?

As an infection disease specialist working in the COVID era, I regularly meditate and paint in aquarelle (watercolors). Depending on the portions of water and color, I discover surprising shades while releasing difficult emotions. The practice of my acrylic artwork started last summer within a creative community of my local Painting Society of Sopron, Hungary. Since then I practice monthly with my friend Katalin Szabó, the painter. As stated by Pablo Picasso, “painting is another form of journaling.” My inspirations come from emotions, memories, and dreams; my presence in nature of flowers and trees; and from listening to music and poetry.

3. Your paintings were in an exhibition lately. Discuss how it came about.

Katalin Szabó with her partner-painter Austrian Gerhard Cervenka organize their annual summer international “Creativity Camp.” For ten days they give spiritual support to people coming together. Last year the topic was about the meaning of fire. A selection of paintings made during our course were available in a public exhibition for one week. It was an inspiring time to work together, to meet other passionate creators and to spend evenings watching films about famous painters.

4. Judit, you’re currently taking a class called Art Therapy. Tell me about it. What are you learning? What is surprising you about own art and what you have been learning?

This two-year-course called Catharsis Complex Art Therapy is based on the method of self-experience, the process of releasing, and, thereby providing relief from strong or repressed emotions. Catharsis Complex Art Therapy strives to find balance between our inner world and outer world effects like changing seasons, months, and nature. Think of the analogies between a tree letting go its autumn leaves and human nature. This course helped me become aware of my thoughts and beliefs; what I let go gives space for new ideas and thought patterns. To understand and develop our wisdom of nature while remaining connected with reality, we use different mediums – color pencils, watercolor, ink, and clay. Our group of eight reflects on each-others’ creative work by giving titles, our impressions about the forms, symbols and colors we used. This community may be used for others, like my patients, friends, and family members. It is similar to our evening (CET) get togethers led by Dieter Langenecker.

5. Over the last few months you taught Mandala painting in our evening gatherings. For people who don’t know about Mandalas, talk about what it is and why it’s significant?

Symbols like the Mandala – i.e. circle, the original Sanskrit word’s translation - have so many meanings in different cultures. It can be the beginning of our life, the womb of our mother, our family, our globe or our universe. It should be practiced from our early childhood. To create our Mandala is about us at that moment… I like painting and drawing my mandala.

—Written by Amanda L. Mottorn, 2022 ©, author of Finding Moksha: One Woman’s Path in Uncertain Times and Artist at Modern Moksha Designs & Publishing.