Volker Hermes is an artist who has gained recognition for his unique series “Hidden Portraits”, where he reimagines historical paintings with a modern twist. By using elements from the original works, Hermes creates photo-collages that obscure the faces of the subjects, inviting viewers to focus on other aspects of the portrait such as fashion and social status symbols. This approach not only adds a layer of contemporary commentary but also humorously reflects on our current era where masks have become a common sight.
His work, which has been a decade in the making, has been featured in international exhibitions and has garnered attention from prestigious institutions and publications. Hermes’s ability to blend the old with the new, the serious with the amusing, has made “Hidden Portraits” a viral sensation, resonating with audiences worldwide.
In my portraits, which are photo-collages elaborated via a self-taught photoshop process on existing images, I try to see masks under a humorous light, even if obviously the situation is all but humorous. I try to add a fashionable element, a bit of a relieving touch, so to speak. I try to make them seem beautiful and not threatening. I work on exaggerating details of the costumes worn by the subjects in the portraits, which leads to reading the image as slightly bizarre and ironic and funny, with an over-the-top quality that makes the meaning of the masked face less dramatic or threatening.
Volker Hermes
More info: Website, Instagram (h/t: Vogue).
