Patrik Proško

A series of hyperrealistic reconstructions of Cro-Magnons was created as part of scientific and museum projects. The individual heads translate anthropological and anatomical data into physical representations of human beings, with particular attention to facial structure, skin texture, hair, facial and body hair, and other details that create the impression of a living presence. The reconstruction process lies at the boundary between scientific evidence and artistic interpretation. While the basic anatomical proportions are based on available data, many characteristics of a living person cannot be determined with certainty from skeletal remains alone. The resulting appearance therefore emerges through the translation of scientific information into a three-dimensional image, where precise reconstruction meets sculptural experience. Working on several different reconstructions also made it possible to gradually develop the techniques of hyperrealistic rendering—from modelling anatomical structures and reproducing the colour and texture of skin to the individual application of hair and facial hair. Each reconstruction thus represents a specific human individual rather than a generic image of “prehistoric man.”