Interview with Sarolt Sógor, the designer of the 21st Verzió's awards
What drew you to the symbol of the eye?
The most evident part of our perception happens through the eye which is especially true in cinematography. From this perspective using the eye for the award object design was in a way inevitable. In a deeper meaning the eye is what represents the human viewpoints collected in a film, especially in a documentary about human problems. One is the perspective of the receiver (the viewer), the other is the transmitter (the director, the makers) and the third is the participator (the object of the film). All three are connected by the eye. If the documentary is the truth the eye (pupil, the hole in the iris) is the gate which it passes through to our consciousness.
Why did you choose this size?
I wanted an object which is not too big, but it can still be seen from afar, and it can be held comfortably with both one and two hands.
Why the natural/earth tones? How did you decide on the materials?
Especially in the case of hand held objects I prefer to use natural materials, which are comfortable to the hand. Wood can be smooth and is warm to the touch and it also has a subtle softness. It has been used by humanity to create some of our most personal objects. Also natural materials have a truth to them in their color, texture and touch. I chose different types of wood for the 6 different categories to make them stand apart, and to reflect on the idea that different truths have a different grain, density and texture to them. The wooden body of the prize objects was made by Hajdu és Fia wood turning company.
Could you elaborate on the symbolic details in the center?
The little shapes in the ‘pupils’ are referring to the category in which the award is given. They are hand-sawn into a brass plate on which the text engraving was made by Gábor Dévényi (Gravox kft.) laser engraver. All of the symbols are human shapes in different cutouts and compositions in analogy with the different human problems these films are shedding light on.
Interview by Mia Breuer.
Photos: Balázs Ivándi-Szabó
