Stefan Draschen has developed an eye for capturing the similarities –– such as colors, patterns, hairdos, or poses –– between works of art and the museumgoers observing them. A mixture of comic, poetic and surprising, these short-lived episodes are highlighted in Coincidences at Museums, published by Hatje Cantz.

Draschen has been working on the series since 2015. After gaining vast popularity through over a million social media shares, the work landed exhibitions in Munich and Vienna. Coincidences at Museums features the most recent pictures from the series.

“When I see something interesting, then I react to it; I slow down and try to adjust to my prey, so to speak,” says the Austrian artist. His “prey” are museum visitors who have a symbiosis with various artworks. 

In Drachen’s light-hearted photographs, the artwork and its viewer meld to form a whole new entity. 

Coincidences at Museums
By Stefan Draschen
Hatje Cantz