Patrick Urwyler, Gallerist, Chimera-Project

  • 24 Nov 2014 11:00 AM
Patrick Urwyler, Gallerist, Chimera-Project
I was born 1981 in Berne Switzerland, live and work since 2010 in Budapest. I’m an art historian and curator/museologist and I run a contemporary art gallery, the in the 7th district at Klauzál tér.

Beside this I founded an illustration and graphic design agency, Illustre, which transmits Hungarian designers to mostly foreign clients. I live together with my girlfriend in the V. district.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
I moved to Hungary in 2010. I had two drives, what brought me: a women and art.
And what keeps me here? She is still my partner and in the meantime I built up my art gallery business here.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
I used to live in Berlin in 2005-2006, this was a university exchange, the best time and place to get involved in the art business.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
The flux in the cultural field of Budapest. Budapest has an extremely vibrant art scene, a huge potential. Also in design and illustration I found here a very strong scene, with distinctive style, which is new and exciting for western clients. This city has a lot to offer to the world, that’s why I decided that I will work on building bridges to abroad.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
For friends my art gallery, Chimera-Project at Klauzál tér is a must see and also a dinner at our terasse in the 5. district :). If going out, we usually visit friends, also active in cultural life in the 7. district in Budapest, for example the bar Telep or the restaurant Konyha. As touristic highlights a must is a nightwalk to the Citadella and of course in wintertime a night visit in the Rudas Spa.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Jókai bableves. I have an own way to eat this with a combo of Hungarian cucumber salad and hot cabbage salad.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Raclette cheese. And Leffe blond.

7.What is your favourite Hungarian word?
“Hull a hó”, which means “it is snowing”. Hearing it first time from my girlfriend I just didn’t believe her, that these expression is real, it sounded like a kids invented mambo-jumbo. It’s sound is very playful.

8. What do you miss most from home?
Good bread.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
I’m totally obsessed with my gallery and art business, honestly I think this keeps me busy another 100 years. Beside this I really love to cook.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
Metro-driver.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
We usually have longer travels, which we also combine with discovering the art scene of a region. Last time it was traveling through France and Spain, we also spent some weeks at the cost with a van, it was great.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?
We wish to discover Tokyo.

13. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?
Good food.

14. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
The Roots (band)

15. Red wine or white?
Red

16. Book or movie?
Book, very thick books…

17. Morning person or night person?
Night

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
I insist that self-determination is a right and responsibility of each person. In any case this right is harmed is an important issue to solve.

19. Buda or Pest side?
Pest, we live in and for the downtown cultural buzz.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
I arrived where I’m now by following and professionalizing my passion for art. This is the field I have the most energy, knowledge and interest for. I really believe that channeling your strenght and real interest makes not only a satisfied life but also builds up a human faced business.

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