Nowhere Yet
Wardrobe Stylist/Creative Director/Photographer: Villő Orbán
1. What significant life experiences or events have influenced and shaped your artistic vision?
Growing up in Hungary, I was exposed to significant contrasts between wealth and poverty. Everyone witnessed two realities: one shaped by privilege through connections and another marked by systemic neglect. This duality wasn’t just economic, it was ideological. I observed how the government exploits their own people, how corruption is normalized and how silence becomes a survival strategy. These revelations increased my sensitivity to power imbalances and social contradictions, which now deeply impacts my artistic vision. I’m interested in what’s rather hidden like the quiet collapse of trust in institutions, the emotional toll of inequality as well as the resilience that emerges in spite of it.
2. Collaboration often sparks fresh creativity. Can you share an example of a collaboration that led to an unexpected and exciting artistic outcome?
That might just have been this shooting “Nowhere Yet”. While we initially approached it with a clear calculated visual concept the dynamics shifted as we arrived. The guys were getting to know each other as we were setting up and most of the pictures emerged from candid moments of them just hanging out listening to music and connecting. It turned out far more raw and authentic than expected. The models truly made it their own and shaped the story to reflect who they are.
3. Walk us through a specific project that challenged your creative boundaries. How did you approach it, and what did you learn from the experience?
A recent ongoing film project about rising extremism among young men challenged me profoundly. I approached it largely from a female perspective, rooted in shared conversations with friends, our exhaustion with misogyny and the pain of emotional abuse. It was hard to grasp the motivations behind radicalization. I still find it difficult to emotionally connect to that anger and isolation from a male perspective. But I’m trying. I’m committed to understanding without excusing. What I’ve learned is that attempting to hold multiple truths, our own pain alongside the pain of others, is essential if we want to create work that leads to healing rather than division.
4. In the ever-evolving art world, what do you believe sets your work apart and makes it unique or groundbreaking?
Honestly, I don’t think my work is exceptional in the traditional sense. If anything, I hope it feels familiar, something people recognize themselves in. We live in a very overwhelming and volatile time: politically, environmentally, emotionally. My work doesn’t offer clarity or answers, it tries to make space for people to feel less alone in their confusion. If there’s something unique about it, it might be the way I embrace being lost. I think there’s strength in vulnerability and being delusional. When the structures meant to protect us (family, institutions, elders) fail to give us stability, we turn to each other to feel seen, heard and safe.
5. As you reflect on your journey, are there any specific goals or milestones you've set for your artistic career in the coming years?
I’d love to work on a film or series that unpacks the role of algorithms and modern propaganda, how our perception of reality is being shaped and manipulated in ways that feel subtle but are deeply strategic. Unlike past forms of propaganda, which were often blatant and centralized, today's distractions are algorithmically tailored, immersive and constant. They infiltrate every aspect of our lives, disguised as entertainment. It would be interesting to document and explore the emotional and political consequences of this shift.
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Model: Levy Budiaki
Assistant: Şimal Yılmaz
Wardrobe Stylist/Creative Director/Photographer: Villő Orbán
Model: Ilia Lomidze
Fashion Designer: Search & Destroy
Assistant: Anna Blue Dági