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Painting Birds in Paradise

A world-renowned hyperrealist painter of nature who works and lives in a cabin in the depths of the Argentinian Andean Forests.

Iván Moricz Karl was born in Hungary in 1941. Probably motivated by the havoc that was and followed the Second World War, his family ended up emigrating to Argentina by 1950. As a child, he painted with watercolors and felt strongly attracted to art. In his adolescence, he already admired hyperrealism, a genre of painting and sculpture where the produced artwork resembles high-resolution photographs. As an adult, he devoted himself to painting nature, especially animals, in particular birds.

It was probably his passion for hyperrealism that drove Iván to be a disciple of Axel Amuchástegui, a renowned Argentine painter who specialized in drawing nature. From 1965, Iván devoted himself to drawing and painting under the tutelage of his teacher. Among a large number of collections, he painted the art that illustrated the calendars of “Pájaros y Mamíferos Argentinos” (Argentinian birds and mammals) for a renowned Argentinian pharma, he ran exhibitions all around the world, even in the Sotheby’s and the Tryon galleries, he painted for major nature conservation agencies such as the WWF and won various contests including some very specific prizes such as one for the best painting of a head of a specific race of bull. Iván’s works are sought after by collectors all around the world.

Not only painting but actually living with mother nature

In 1977 Iván settled in a property on the shores of Lake Lolog, where for 5 years he developed a fruitful production of works inspired by the flora and fauna of the forests in the Patagonian Andes. Fascinated by the place, he then moved just a around the same lake but on a far shore that is very hard to get to and accessible only by navigating the dangerous waters of the lake. He set himself in a cabin owned by the Argentinian National parks.

During his first winter in Lake Lolog he realized that cold can kill you there; that’s why he keeps a large stack of firewood next to the cabin. The cold and the fire, the closeness to the lake and the remoteness to friends, the embedment in nature, the short days, and the severe weather, must make up a simultaneously charming and spooky place. I guess.

But for over 20 years, Iván has thriven in his cabin with just occasional visitors, especially friends in summer, and spending most of the time alone, accompanied full-time only by nature and his paintings. Paintings that he never ends -he explains- because “you can always add more detail to a painting” -and this is indeed what makes a hyperrealism painting better than the best photo.

Working, or rather Painting, in paradise

Iván always clarifies that he does not work. He paints. A whole philosophy of life, surrounded by nature and isolated. When he paints, he wants and needs calm. Because it is “me and the painting” -he explains in an interview.

Iván paints mainly in the winter season when the days are hard and surrounded by solitude he has the climax he needs to perform. Each work he paints is meticulously studied, and no detail is left to chance. He is a great observer and knows the species in his environment like few others. During long walks through the forest, he collects information and analyzes it thoroughly. His mind distills fine details about the shapes, textures, and colors of fruits, trunks, leaves, nails, feathers, hairs... His brush then strikes the canvas with better details than the photo of the highest possible resolution. And this is not a metaphor: in hyperrealism, the dedication to a painting results in the integration of many details in a single picture that cameras might not be able to see simultaneously, because different details might require specific lighting, orientations, and poses. With his attention to detail, the hyperrealist painter can distill and blend all details into a single picture. That’s why a work can take months or years to be finished if it ever is.

But Iván is not a hermit, recluse, or any kind of grumpy grouch. The painter of the Lolog is described by many as a good man and friend, passionate, charismatic, and friendly (besides extremely talented, of course) artist. A man who chose to live alone only to develop his talent.

Addition: wow

Iván specializes in birds. When I was just finishing the last touches of this story, I saw a bird in a way I had never seen! It was standing on outer blinds, and I didn’t see it directly from where I was sitting but rather saw his projection on a wall. I’m amazed by this kind of serendipitous event!

Some random stories by me: [nature & science photography]-[writing and side hustles]

Further material to read and watch about Iván

• Iván’s instagram account -I guess maintained by a friend?

• Written essay and interviews (1 in Spanish, 1 in English)

• Interview and visit to Iván’s place in the Argentinian TV (in Spanish)

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