# Grotesquely Morphed Classic Portraits Christian Rex van Minnen Depicts Appalling Skin Issues By Simal Yilmaz | Published 2013-03-17 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/christian-rex-van-minnen References: [artnau](http://www.artnau.com/2013/03/christian-rex-van-minnen-2/) & [christianvanminnen](http://www.christianvanminnen.com/) Christian Rex van Minnen's subject matter is completely appalling, and yet incredibly well-painted. The artist paints [portraits and still life forms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glass-portraits) in the most gruesome form possible. The faces he paints do not contain any facial elements, but rather conceptual additions such as [shells and diamonds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/giga-pearl) accompanied by grotesque skin. Christian Rex van Minnen certainly enjoys including horrendous blisters and infected acne-like elements in every possible surface. His portraits look like life forms that have had to live underwater for decades and have transformed into sea-life creatures, just like Barbossa from Pirates of the Caribbean. The artist uses [vibrant colors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/painting-exhibition) and extremely clear surfaces that makes the painting itself a masterpiece, and yet the subject matter a little too disturbing for certain eyes. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.3/10 - Popularity: 38% | Activity: 23% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Grotesque Art:** Opportunity for disruption in the art industry by challenging traditional aesthetics and pushing boundaries of what is considered beautiful or acceptable. - **Conceptual Portraiture:** Innovation opportunity for artists and photographers to explore concepts beyond physical appearance and incorporate conceptual additions to their subject matter. - **Horror Aesthetics:** Opportunity for the entertainment industry to incorporate unsettling aesthetics and push the boundaries of traditional horror aesthetics. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Fine Arts:** Disruptive innovation opportunity for art schools, galleries, and museums to embrace unconventional and shocking art styles and blur the lines between fine art and lowbrow art. - **Fashion:** Opportunity for fashion designers and stylists to incorporate grotesque visuals into their designs and push the boundaries of what is considered beautiful or stylish. - **Horror Film:** Innovation opportunity for the horror film industry to use unsettling and disturbing visuals to create a new aesthetic that challenges viewers and pushes the boundaries of what is considered scary or horrifying. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Archival Pigment Art Print](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/parallax.md) - [Dark Abstracted Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-minyades-exhibition.md) - [Apocalypse Post Pandemic Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/contemporary-urban-art.md) - [Glamorous Artful Bronze Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sweet-jane.md) - [Medicine-Inspired Artful Shows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/something-for-the-pain.md) - [Surreal Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jeffrey-deitch-art-gallery.md) - [Abstract Geometric Solo Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/impermanent-state-of-being.md) - [Otherwordly Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/william-monk.md) - [Stunning Origami Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/origami-portaits.md)