In the midst of life we are in death.

So says The Book of Common Prayer, and it's an observation that seems to be echoed in the skull drawings of Hungary's amazing Orosz István.

In the western world, we use the name as István Orosz, a reversal that seems appropriate for an artist who delights in forced perspectives and optical illusions.

Born in Kecskemét in 1951, István Orosz has achieved international recogniition as a painter, printmaker, graphic designer and animated film director. He is known for his mathematically inspired works, impossible objects, visual tricks, double-meaning images and anamorphoses.

His geometric art has been compared to that of M. C. Escher.

CONSIDER THIS AN INTRODUCTION.

In presenting just a few of his fascinating skull drawings, we hardly do justice to the artist's versatility. On graduation from the Hungarian University of Arts and Design (now Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design) in 1975, István Orosz first became known as a stage designer. He moved into animated film as an animator and film director. And as time went on, he was equally recognized for his talents as a painter, printmaker, poster designer, and illustrator.

Now fifty-eight years of age, he enjoys explorations of visual paradox, creating double meaning images and illusionistic approaches while still employing traditional illustrative and printing techniques.

He is a regular participant in major international biennials of posters and graphic art and his works has been shown in individual and group exhibitions in Hungary and abroad.

István Orosz is Film director at the PannóniaFilm Studio in Budapest, Habil. professor at University of West Hungary in Sopron, co-founder of Hungarian Poster Association, a member of Alliance Graphique International (AGI) and Hungarian Art Academie.