Kinga Tóth
Born in Hungary in 1983, Kinga Tóth is a polymath—linguist, visual sound poet, illustrator, cultural manager, and performance artist. Her extensive educational background in linguistics and literature imbues her creative pursuits with profound layers. Tóth composes in Hungarian, German, and English, presenting her literary works through innovative installations and performances. With her distinctive exploration of language and visual arts, she is a pioneering figure in the contemporary literary scene, enhancing the scope of how literature is conceived and presented.
Tóth’s works like »ZSÚR« (2013), »ALL MACHINE/Allmaschine« (2014), and »Wir bauen eine Stadt« (2016; tr: We Build a City) showcase her unique style of integrating visual elements into her writing. Her most recent publication, »Mondgesichter« (2022; Eng. »Moonlight Faces«), exhibits the distinctive blend of diverse artistic mediums, her keen grasp of languages, and the engaging use of dialogue, short prose, and colloquial phrases. These stylistic traits result in an immersive reading experience. As critic Michaela Schmitz once noted, »Tóth’s words build worlds, entwining the reader in a dense thicket of images, sounds, and emotions.«
Among Tóth’s significant works, her installation »I roll you three times« (2022), an object-sound-video exhibit at the MODEM Gallery, stands out as a testament to her innovative creative practice. Tóth’s work garnered critical acclaim and earned her a place on the shortlist of the 2023 Wortmeldungen Literature Prize. In the same year, she also received a prestigious DAAD Scholarship for Literature in Berlin.
Tóth’s relentless artistic pursuit extends to her role as an advocate for gender equality and women’s representation in the Hungarian literary industry. Her contributions to this cause, as well as her remarkable interdisciplinary work, have earned her awards such as the 2020 Hugo Ball Prize and the Bernard Heidsieck Prize. Also, she had an exhibition on behalf of the Extra! Festivals in Center Pompidou (2021). Currently, she is involved in an upcoming intermedia theatre piece »Electric Jungle« (2023), in collaboration with composer and musician Silvia Rosani.
Tóth’s multidisciplinary vision has redefined the concept of literature, inviting readers and audiences to engage with her works beyond the written word. She continues to shape her legacy by studying Nun Art as text performance for her Ph.D. at Debrecen University while curating programs focusing on women in arts. The author currently lives in Berlin.
Wir bauen eine Stadt
Parasitenpresse
Germany, 2016
Transit
Sukultur
Berlin, 2021
Mondgesichter
Matthes & Seitz
Berlin, 2022
[Ü: Kinga Tóth]