In her global long-term project "The Averted Portrait", Corina Gertz focuses on women in traditional dress and costume as portraits from behind against a monochrome black background. With this arrangement, which is repeated in all the portraits and removes body proportions or skin colours from the field of vision, Corina makes clothing and costumes visible as cultural constants that are equally an expression of individuality and belonging in all regions of the world and across generations.

Her subjects remain hidden; the clothing alone communicates. Many of the images are composed of inherited pieces, which hold history and tradition. They are manifestations of the preservation of traditional knowledge, conventions, customs and practices. In Corina’s work, she represents this cultural heritage with respect to craftsmanship, origin, family and social status, thus revealing something about the identity of the wearer, without revealing their individuality. On the one hand, they are community portraits. On the other hand, through the detailed presentation of the clothing, there is an intimacy with the individual and their aesthetic, political, social and cultural contexts.