Threads, colors, freedom…weather.

When I started writing the outline of this material, I was completely unaware of what kind of weather this summer would bring us. I felt it was time for a little lightness. The middle of the month was beautiful, long days, everything was green here, and people were in a good mood. How much better I like it, the energy is definitely more pleasant than in the cold. These were my thoughts.

Vienna Pride was over, but for me the visual celebration of freedom was not over yet, I continued to prepare for Budapest, I tried to make it a non-political issue now, and I succeeded. The people I met home, not always.

By the way, topics like colors, which have always played an important role in my life, my past as a makeup artist, where I was quite good at handling them, and the fact that now, although I mainly create with yarns and other materials and textures, the spectacular variations, tones, color harmonies, contrasts, my own palettes and experimentation continue to provide the exciting inner tension that I always feel at such times. The medium has changed, my relationship with colors has remained: it's good that there is no particularly bad combination. I reflected on these and similar things, on my small terrace, where life was bustling. I was busy with the color pairings, which often work together in ways that I did not see at first. Then it was time to travel home.

The diversity of people is also similar to art, I think.When I work on an embroidery, I use threads of different thicknesses, colors and types. None of them wants to take the place of the other, yet together they create something new, together they make the picture interesting.

Maybe that's why I feel close to the message of Pride. I like that not everyone has to be the same. Here in Vienna it is especially interesting to experience this. A month ago, the Ring was filled with colors, music, and people for the Regenbogenparade, what I love most about it is that openness is not a special event, but a natural part of everyday life. For me, freedom means that everyone can be themselves without having to explain it.

So pride exists not only on the street, in the loudest noise or in the biggest crowd, but also in the most ordinary conversations, gestures, processes and pleasant little afternoons when you just sit with a cup of tea and draw on the canvas with colored threads.

Everyone experiences this differently, at a different pace, in different colors, with a different story. That's what makes it so beautiful. It's also true that not everyone feels this way, even here. I saw that day walking down the street that even in this more open-minded city there are those who think differently. But they don't go out with banners, crosses, hateful messages. They simply occupy themselves with what is important to them and allow others to do the same. It's a good reminder that it can be done this way.

In Hungary, in recent years, the other side has had a hard time withstanding these few hours. Now the flags were thrown into the water, instead the Hungarian tricolor was put on, and in the end they were mixed up. I think our nation's heroes did not expect that the marchers were actually happy about this. Also, how many photos were taken of gurrrls, guys and gays with the flags. I would say checkmate, but of course I also know that there is no universal truth, so I try not to force my truth on everyone at all costs. I have to admit that I still make mistakes. When someone makes sarcastic comments about violating basic human rights, I absolutely raise my voice, while knowing that trying to defend the situation will not change it. In that situation, it certainly will not. There is a way to do it, but my blood pressure does not need to be raised by someone's misunderstanding, an opinion that is absolutely not relevant to the topic. My obsession is that people have developed logical thinking, compassion, and that in 2026 we should no longer march for the same stories that so many have done before us. Robophobia is slowly coming in, and then most people can't even get over the fact that there are different skin colors. But this attitude makes me just as limited and narrow-minded. So we’re still working on it.

I haven't participated in many marches in Budapest, but the first one I did, my mother was there with me and my siblings. I remember crying. Last year we cried too. Although that was definitely a protest against the government, finally, this year was different. It could have been a celebration of love and identity again. I think this is the most important message of all of it. Also, how much love, creativity and otherwise courage there is in the people who are present, still makes me feel good. But there is also the other eye that sometimes cries. Because at home, it takes a lot of courage. And how unpleasant the thought is that being yourself is a brave thing. The fact that there are those who think that not everyone deserves the same amount of dignity or rights in such a situation continues to outrage me. This shows that I am still only in the base camp on the path of acceptance. So I have no right to criticise those who argue against it on the grounds of religion or normality. We point at each other from a spectrum and think, with deep conviction, that we are right. This bipolar (polarized) worldview is a simplified way of thinking. These events and situations should not be pitted against each other. Good/bad, black/white, yes/no. I thought I knew better than that and now I still allowed myself to get into an argument. But maybe now I have learned my lesson.

Returning briefly to the previous topic, the rainbow has appeared as a source of inspiration in my work several times over the past few years; I really love that it is always possible to find a new form for the same feeling. And although I didn't choose any of them for the photos now, you can find them here on the site.

I brought a few pictures for this post that are related to this experience in different ways. For example, the statue dressed in a rainbow symbolises self-expression for me. The middle one was taken 5 years ago (my first one in Vienna), where I think they managed to capture the liberated joy and energy in me that the community gives at such times. The dove of peace is also included, because for me, diversity, freedom and acceptance ultimately lead back to the same place: to the hope that we can interact with each other more peacefully and openly.

Have a nice holiday everyone, see you in a month.

Ivett