In her long-term project The Averted Portrait, photographer Corina Gertz directs her gaze toward women in traditional clothing—and simultaneously turns it away. The subjects are always shown from behind, against a monochromatic black background. Through this deliberate staging, the garments themselves take center stage as carriers of history, identity, and belonging. Skin color, facial features, and body proportions recede, revealing a cultural memory embedded in fabrics, patterns, and craftsmanship.
Many of the displayed garments are heirlooms, rich with history, tradition, and familial significance. They embody knowledge passed down through generations and reflect social, aesthetic, and political narratives. Without revealing the individuality of the wearers, Gertz succeeds in creating a sensitive portrait of collective identity—situated between personal belonging and societal context.
Through systematic cataloging, she creates a visual archive that is far more than a documentary collection: her artistic language amplifies the impact of the garments as expressions of cultural diversity and highlights their emotional and political dimensions.
Corina Gertz’s photographic series The Averted Portrait is a powerful visual testament to diversity, memory, and respect—core values of a democratic society. By engaging with traditional clothing and the textile crafts of ethnic origins, Gertz makes a deliberate statement against uniformity and cultural homogenization. Her photographs celebrate cultural identity as a foundation of democratic life: they make visible what is often overlooked or marginalized, and create spaces for reflection, empathy, and the appreciation of cultural difference.