Milan Radisics
100-Year-Old Gellért Thermal Baths
Through Startling Pairs Of Pictures
Budapest, the capital of Hungary, has a long association with water. It has been the “City of Spas” since 1934, because it has more thermal and medicinal water springs than any other capital city in the world.
The most unique destination and a favorite among foreigners are the Gellért Thermal Bath and Hotel. It opened gates in 1918. That means this world-famous site is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
When asked to create an exciting photo series about Budapest’s iconic thermal bath for World Water Day, I was initially stumped. The complex is very photogenic. Consequently, it has been captured on film numerous times, in pictures by the best photographers. Recently, even world-famous Gucci produced an ad campaign here. Uh-oh, I am in trouble. How am I to create something new and exciting, something never seen before?
As a photographer, I always seek out the most unique settings and then trust my vision. I know that I can create extraordinary spectacles, but this task now weighed on me. For hours I sat in the atrium of the bath complex, crushing a series of disposable coffee cups, struggling to draw inspiration from the building’s ornate Secession-Era interior.
I sat there for days. At night, I observed the building from the outside… And suddenly I felt the spark of inspiration! It is a Thermal Bath and Hotel in one. There are separate, totally symmetric parts for men and women. There are pools both inside and outside, available in both winter and summer… Since I enjoy producing both aerial and traditional photos, a novel approach presented itself:
Not just interesting pictures, but pairs of pictures!
From outside-inside, above-below, from rooftop and basement, from water, land, and air… Pictures that expose distinct parts of the complex, but have colours and forms in common, or simply complement one another. Picture-pairs that uncovers the diversity and dichotomy of the Gellért, and then — after the initial shock of recognition — create a virtual third picture, a composite, in the viewer’s mind.
I had not made my assignment any easier. In fact, I had set the bar high. Still, I knew my aim, and I had my inspiration!
Gellért SPA
Photographs from exhibition named From Water, From Air, organised to celabrate the 100 years old Gellert SPA,
and World Water Day.
© 2019 MIlan Radisics
milan@radex.hu