Szilveszter Makó on His Iconic Box, Recycled Sets, and Portraits of Dafoe, Blanchett, Bellucci

Hungarian photographer Szilveszter Makó discusses his distinctive practice built around a recurring 'box' structure, recycled materials, and natural light. The box serves as both constraint and liberation, centering subjects and preventing energy dissipation. Makó's visual references span the Renaissance, Dada, and Bauhaus, but he insists his identity comes from the filter of his own discipline and restrictions. He has photographed Willem Dafoe, Cate Blanchett, Monica Bellucci, and Solange, treating celebrities as equals on set and fostering honest, unpredictable dialogue. His post-production process is deliberately non-orthodox and time-consuming, aiming for idealization rather than perfection. Makó rejects the notion of showing 'truth,' describing his images as belonging to the landscape of his mind. He champions recycled materials for ethical and economic reasons, arguing that waste is the true enemy of creation. The interview was conducted by Alessia Caliendo for Artribune.