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Nóra Winkler

The first time I appeared on the stage of the Vígszínház was in 1999. I was very excited, as I thought that much rested with me as the bidding paddle announcer, regarding the success of the sale. I was really agitated despite of the fact that I used to be trained in highly responsible positions. I had been the financial manager of the publisher of the Octogon Architectural Periodical for years, later moderated a morning programme of the Danubius Radio called Cappuccino Tripla, then the cultural news of the Hungarian Television called Közeli. As the moderator of the Sziget TV (a cultural weekly youth programme on Hungarian television) I had to manage different situations from week to week, concentrating on the guests and also elaborating all the topics thoroughly and humorously as well. When I became the auctioneer at the Kieselbach sales I felt that I can fulfil a task which unites every kind of exciting task that challenges for me. It is basically a cultural background with a half a milliard forints’ worth paintings at stake where the audience’s tension, intention and willingness is creating the atmosphere of the evening on the basis of the strict rules of bidding. I have learnt a lot from the experience of the auctions. Partly I have practised to manage different situations, and partly – or rather mostly – I have become devoted to the world of painting, to the world of art. Especially if we consider the critics about the dryness of the university’s art history studies, the time I have spent with Tamás in museums or in his gallery is even more valuable. His sensual, personal attitude towards pictures has a strong influence on people – including me - who has the opportunity to observe art in his company. As a result of this interest you can see the Artmagazin which is a two-monthly periodical having appeared in winter, 2003. This periodical contains articles on the history of art collecting, on contemporary art, recent exhibitions and interviews with the most interesting representatives of the Hungarian art and art dealing life – and hopefully it is an exciting and nice magazine. In the summer of 2004 we started a daily radio programme on channel Radio Café entitled KogartCafé on the basis of Gábor Kovács’ idea. He is the greatest sponsor of Hungarian contemporary art and in this programme I make interviews with the important creators and sponsors of art. I like the things that I do – they are different but they have the same perspective. I am proud to be the auctioneer of the Kieselbach sales, especially of the fact that I have never fallen behind the lectern in spite of my high-heel shoes. Nevertheless I have once thrown the hammer away after a long and exciting bidding, but the audience seemed to accept it as well.