Attila Kotányi
Encyclopedia
Attila Kotányi (ˈɒtilːɒ ˈkotaːɲi; born in 1924 in Hungary, 18. October 2003, Düsseldorf
) was a poet, philosopher, writer
and architect
-urbanist.
In his early years in Budapest
, Attila Kotányi belonged to the intellectual circle of philosopher Lajos Szabó (with whom he kept being engaged in a philosophical conversation for 20 years) and Béla Hamvas
. In 1956, after the failed Hungarian revolution, he emigrated with his family to Brussels
where he continued studying and eventually graduated in urbanism
. In the early 1960s he became a member of the Situationniste Internationale where for the two following years worked in the editors' committee of the S.I. bulletin and entered in close friendship with Guy Debord
. His contributions to the bulletin include Gangland and Philosophy (1961), Programme élémentaire du bureau d'urbanisme unitaire (1961) co-authored with Constant and Theses on the Paris Commune co-authored with Guy Debord and Raoul Vaneigem
(1962). He was excommunicated by Debord in 1962 for his alleged "Christian mysticism". Later he moved to Düsseldorf, Germany, where he taught for 12 years at the Düsseldorf Art Academy
. Beyond poetry and philosophical conversations he also painted and did smaller architectural works. In the 1990s he returned to Budapest where he pursued the last active period of his life, gathering a steady circle of young intellectuals in his Saturday afternoon conversations where he was elaborating on his Sabbath-theory, the radical suspension of activity. He died in Düsseldorf due to complications of a stroke.
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
) was a poet, philosopher, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
-urbanist.
In his early years in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Attila Kotányi belonged to the intellectual circle of philosopher Lajos Szabó (with whom he kept being engaged in a philosophical conversation for 20 years) and Béla Hamvas
Béla Hamvas
Béla Hamvas was a Hungarian writer, philosopher, and social critic. He was the first thinker to introduce the Traditionalist School of René Guénon to Hungary.-Biography:...
. In 1956, after the failed Hungarian revolution, he emigrated with his family to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
where he continued studying and eventually graduated in urbanism
Urbanism
Broadly, urbanism is a focus on cities and urban areas, their geography, economies, politics, social characteristics, as well as the effects on, and caused by, the built environment.-Philosophy:...
. In the early 1960s he became a member of the Situationniste Internationale where for the two following years worked in the editors' committee of the S.I. bulletin and entered in close friendship with Guy Debord
Guy Debord
Guy Ernest Debord was a French Marxist theorist, writer, filmmaker, member of the Letterist International, founder of a Letterist faction, and founding member of the Situationist International . He was also briefly a member of Socialisme ou Barbarie.-Early Life:Guy Debord was born in Paris in 1931...
. His contributions to the bulletin include Gangland and Philosophy (1961), Programme élémentaire du bureau d'urbanisme unitaire (1961) co-authored with Constant and Theses on the Paris Commune co-authored with Guy Debord and Raoul Vaneigem
Raoul Vaneigem
Raoul Vaneigem is a Belgian writer and philosopher. He was born in Lessines . After studying romance philology at the Free University of Brussels from 1952 to 1956, he participated in the Situationist International from 1961 to 1970...
(1962). He was excommunicated by Debord in 1962 for his alleged "Christian mysticism". Later he moved to Düsseldorf, Germany, where he taught for 12 years at the Düsseldorf Art Academy
Kunstakademie Düsseldorf
The Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, formerly Staatliche Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, is the Arts Academy of the city of Düsseldorf. It is well known for having produced many famous artists, such as Joseph Beuys, Gerhard Richter, Sigmar Polke, Thomas Demand, and Andreas Gursky...
. Beyond poetry and philosophical conversations he also painted and did smaller architectural works. In the 1990s he returned to Budapest where he pursued the last active period of his life, gathering a steady circle of young intellectuals in his Saturday afternoon conversations where he was elaborating on his Sabbath-theory, the radical suspension of activity. He died in Düsseldorf due to complications of a stroke.