(1940 - 2008) – Malerier, biografi & hovedværker

The Life and Artistic Journey of István Tellinger

Born in Mukachevo, Ukraine, István Tellinger was raised in Miskolc, Hungary, where he lived in difficult circumstances. His early life involved various labors, including working as a locksmith's assistant and in the construction industry as a technician and designer. His passion for drawing was awakened by a painter named Ferenc Bor, who served as his vocational instructor in a locksmith school in Pest. Although he was unsuccessful in his first two attempts to enter college, he began actively engaging with fine arts in 1960. He became involved in the work of the Miskolc Graphic Workshop, where he mastered the professional knowledge of graphics through the guidance of artists such as Béla Kondor, Zoltán Lenkey, and Kálmán Csohány. He particularly considered László Lukovszky his master, who opened his eyes to the medium.

Artistic Expression and Legacy

Tellinger's primary modes of expression were graphics, specifically copper engraving and linocut, though he also worked with woodcut. From the 1990s onward, he produced colored graphics and paintings, despite always considering himself a graphic artist. His work often focused on illustrating his own thoughts and feelings, a philosophy he described as an attempt to draw or paint what he thinks and feels. He was a prolific contributor to various publications, including Élet és Irodalom, Napjaink, and Népszava, and he was known for his work in small graphics and ex libris, for which he won awards. He also taught drawing to youth at the Gábor Áron Art Secondary School. His works are preserved in institutions such as the Herman Ottó Museum in Miskolc and the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest.