World Fine Art Professionals and their Key-Pieces, 518 – Adam Centko
adam centko – 1
World Fine Art Professionals and their Key-Pieces, 518 – Adam Centko
Adam Centko was the third visual arts candidate for the Piket Prize 2024, the prize for young artistic talent in The Hague. He was nominated alongside Shani Leseman and Ellen Yiu. We were unable to reach him earlier because he was out of the country; he had a residency in China at AcentiricSpace in Shanghai. But now we are talking to him, in the café of Filmhuis Den Haag.
adam centko – 2
“It came out of the blue, the Prize, I was pleasantly surprised,” he says. He is very curious and tries out a lot, especially in the technological field. “3D, computer, camera, AI, video. I find it exciting what the technology allows you today. I like to experiment with it. In these experiments I find topics to address. On macro level it’s about society and technology, I reflect for instance on the environmental impact of technology. I give it a personal interpretation.”
adam centko – 3
Keeping up with technology
He is critical of technological developments, but does not take a strong position in these developments, rather he focuses on aspects that are usually not discussed. “It is a strange time. Until recently I could keep up with all the developments, but recently it has been going so fast that even I can’t keep up.”
adam centko – 4
Video clips
In high school in Košice, Slovakia, he loved to ride bikes with his friends and – because he was into video – he made video clips of it. “When young I was intrigued by new gadgets. A new camera allows you to look in a new way, a new computer to process in a new way. I grew up in an age when technology was becoming more and more prominent. It’s a global thing.”
In 2016, Adam started his bachelor’s degree in Interactive Media Design at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague and graduated in 2020.
adam centko – 5
Does Adam have a key work, and, if so, which work is it?
adam centko – 6
He has. It’s called Ethereum Landscapes and he was working on it from 2021 to 2023. “It’s exactly what I was just talking about. Reflecting on technology and using it myself, combined with a commentary on the environmental impact. It has simplicity, is easy to understand and the communication is very fast. The best artwork in my view, is the work that communicates the fastest and the strongest.”
adam centko – 7
What is his experience with the art world?
He is very positive about the art world in the Netherlands. He has a studio in Grey Space in the Middle at the Paviljoensgracht. “It is a space for fundamental creativity, you can explore there. I am always fascinated by exploring possibilities and finding new things. My drive is great. There appears to be a lot of support from the government and cultural institutions in the Netherlands when they see that you are motivated. The Netherlands may be the best country in the world in this area.”
adam centko – 8
How was his stay in Shanghai?
“I was there for three months as a resident artist. I really enjoyed it. It gave me a new perspective on the world. When I do 3D sculpture in the Netherlands, I do it in my studio. In China, you can order it from the manufacturer. That allowed me to focus on the idea. It was mind-blowing. It was a very inspiring and productive time. The Chinese fellow artists were as free as I was in terms of technique and exploration, they just had to be a little more careful about the political aspects.”
adam centko – 9
He has done a lot of 3D sculpture in recent years, he will focus more on the Moving Image from this year on. “I go back to the moving image. It is my initial interest. You work with people and you are experiencing the process with people. Sculpture is something you do alone. I like the community.”
adam centko – 10
Finally, what is his artistic philosophy?
“What is the role of the artist? I try to offer a unique perspective. Not everyone can see it and I want to share it. It has to be done in a way that I enjoy the proces.”
See also this short video: https://vimeo.com/1016466927
Photo 8: portrait photo Adam Centko.
https://www.piketkunstprijzen.nl/adam-centko
https://www.instagram.com/acentko/
https://www.haagsekunstenaars.nl/cv/81743
https://inzaken.eu/2025/03/06/adam-centko-het-beste-kunstwerk-is-wat-mij-betreft-het-werk-dat-het-snelst-en-het-sterkst-communiceert/
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions expressed within this guest article are those of the author Walter van Teeffelen alone and do not represent those of the Marbella Marbella website. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to Walter van Teeffelen and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with the author.
