Brno Expats Have Talent: Tamás (Slovakia / Hungary) - florist

Welcome to another episode from our Brno Expats Have Talent series. Brno is full of talented people, and some of them are not from the CR. We’re introducing one talented expat at a time!

This month, meet Tamás and his gentle art which you can bring home with you any day.

Tamás Vígh (Slovakia / Hungary) – florist

How long have you been a florist?

It’s actually a good question, as I was born into a family of florists. I am the fourth generation to make a living in this craft, this profession. But basically I have been a professional florist for the last 17 years of my life, including my studies. Now, being a florist is my daily bread. The florist studio is a means of income not only for me, but also for the staff and assistants.

How do you find living in Brno as an expat and artist?

I love living in Brno. It is vibrant, full of inspiration and new impulses that help creativity and creation. I have always felt welcomed and accepted by society. I think Brno is a very friendly city for foreigners. However, finding a job is not easy. But it seems that’s the case nowhere in the world nowadays.

Is it easy to practise floristry as an art here?

I didn’t have a clear goal of what I wanted to do at the beginning. I came here for my studies, and only later did I realize that I wanted to have my own flower shop. The biggest problem was the bureaucracy. But I’m in an advantageous position because I’m from an EU country, and from Slovakia. But some things were not easy to arrange even after seven years of business…

How different is the audience in the CR?

Our craft is very specific, guided by traditions, seasons, trends and social habits, among other things. These vary from country to country. The only experience I have with floristry as a livelihood is in Slovakia, but it is similar to the local situation. However, Brno is not Bratislava, it is not the capital, so the clientele is different. But I don’t see it as very similar to the situation I grew up in.

Where do you find inspiration? 

The biggest milestone in my career was studying aesthetics at Masaryk University. The study itself brought a lot of new things into my life, broadened my horizons, and thanks to that I find inspiration in visual arts, architecture or music. And Brno really has a lot to offer in terms of culture. That’s why I love living in this city. All the attributes of a metropolis, but in the form of a pleasantly large small town.

Do you cooperate with other expats?

I don’t know many foreigners running a florist business in the Czech Republic. And I don’t know any other foreigners I would cooperate with in my field. But I have a lot of friends who are either Hungarians like me or from other countries. But these relationships are more on a friendly level, not professional.

Is there any other area in art that you’d like to explore?

Some time ago I started singing in an amateur mixed choir. I’d like to get better at it. And I’ve also started taking pictures with analog film cameras. But I definitely have room to improve in both fields 😀

Where can expats find you and your art in Brno nowadays?

You can find my studio, showroom and shop just off Šilingrovo náměstí, at Starobrněnská 20. And in the windows of several boutiques around the city.

Tamás’ video where he explains what he likes about Brno was created in cooperation with TIC Brno. 

(unfortunately, it misses English subtitles. Take the opportunity to practise your Czech)

Photos by Tereza Oprchalová and Vojta Hurych.