{"id":476506,"date":"2026-02-13T03:41:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T03:41:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/476506\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T03:41:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T03:41:12","slug":"szilveszter-makos-surreal-photographs-reconstruct-the-boundaries-of-portraiture-colossal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/476506\/","title":{"rendered":"Szilveszter Mak\u00f3’s Surreal Photographs Reconstruct the Boundaries of Portraiture \u2014 Colossal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Szilveszter Mak\u00f3<\/a>\u2019s enigmatic photographs carry layers of mystery and introspection. Standing inside curious block-like backdrops and lain against two-dimensional fields of color and texture, his subjects seamlessly meld into stories in which every detail carries intention.<\/p>\n

Taking inspiration from art history, the Milan-based artist references Surrealism<\/a> and grotesque art through his use of chiaroscuro effects via light exploration and contrasting earth tones. Similar to 20th-century Surrealist paintings, Mak\u00f3\u2019s images delve into uncanny realms and evoke a dreamlike sense of unfettered imagination. It\u2019s no surprise that the photographer was once a painter and has suggested that these impulses may be a subconscious homage to his earlier chapters.<\/p>\n

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Mystery presents itself in Mak\u00f3\u2019s photos through tactility that\u2019s difficult to pinpoint. Subtle but moody elements\u2014such as grain and halation surrounding moments of brightness\u2014point to the possibility of filmic qualities achieved by chemical reaction, rather than digital manipulation. While the photographer doesn\u2019t divulge his specific post-production techniques, he explains, \u201cI would not call it a secret but more of an unorthodox process\u2026 those who understand the history of analog photography could probably recognize what I am doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mak\u00f3\u2019s strong sense of style can be attributed to his distinct mise en sc\u00e8ne, consisting of handmade props made with recycled materials, carefully constructed theatrical environments, and bold yet often sculptural garments that add visual interest through elongated lines and exaggerated silhouettes. Often highlighting designer pieces by Schapiarelli, Maison Margiela, Prada, Bottega, and more, the artist has also teamed up with more commercial names, such as Zara, and most recently, Adidas.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we come into the studio, everything that my team and I have prepared, like the props, the costumes, and the designs, pile up in one room,\u201d Mak\u00f3 shares in a conversation with Artribune<\/a>. \u201cI like to see it all collide. As what we imagine beforehand does not always want to come together in the way we planned.\u201d<\/p>\n

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One of the most distinguishable motifs across the artist\u2019s images is a box. This cubic element appears in many forms\u2014a confined space that models find themselves in, the repeating shapes that make up checkered floors, house-inspired headpieces, or, more recently, its evolution into a two-dimensional compositional element in playful flat-lay photographs. \u201cFor me, the box is both a restriction and a liberation,\u201d Mak\u00f3 notes. \u201cIt centralizes the host whilst simultaneously amplifying it, preventing energy from scattering across the frame.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the box\u2019s formally geometric characteristics lend itself to an evolution of order, structure, and guidance, the photographer also enthusiastically welcomes spontaneous moments, explaining that \u201ccontrol makes images cold and calculated, leaving much without meaning. A shoot should breathe, it should evolve, it should shock even those who are making it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Mak\u00f3 regularly works with a slew of well-known celebrities\u2014such as Elle Fanning, Bad Bunny, Michelle Yeoh, Willem Dafoe, Cate Blanchett, and more\u2014he possesses a unique ability to transcend the veil of fame, artfully translating even the most recognizable faces into something entirely of his own. He shares, \u201cI\u00a0do not treat celebrities differently from anyone else. We enter the room as equals. The set is not a hierarchy, it is a space where we work together.\u201d<\/p>\n

See more from the photographer on Instagram<\/a>, and find his images published in editions of Vogue, The Cut, Acne Paper, Vanity Fair, GQ, and more.<\/p>\n

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