ONE HOUR WITH
© Lukas Beck 2025
It all began with a visit from John Malkovich to my studio in the summer of 2024. Soon, over 25 outstanding artists will have accepted my photographic challenge: to perform for one hour in full concentration, under very specific lighting, with no instructions, relying solely on themselves. The result is deep, moving, and profoundly private images—intense, timeless portraits
Rebecca Horner
John Malkovich
Mavie Hörbiger
Nikolaus Habjan
Andrey Kaydanovskiy
Safira Robens
Kurdwin Ayub
Lili Winderlich
Tobias Motetti
Lenz Moretti
Vivi Vassileva
Lenz Moretti
Branko Samarovski
Maresi Riegner
Markus Meyer
Dörte Lyssewski
Stefanie Reinsperger
Marie Luise Stockinger
Caroline Peters
Anouk Lamm Anouk
Hila Fahima
Herbert Pixner
Lilith Häßle
Nicholas Ofczarek
Josef Hader
Nina Siewert
Katharina Klar
TIMELESS.
The origin of and the idea behind
The origin of and the idea behind
ONE HOUR WITH:
JOHN MALKOVICH arrived with a suitcase full of clothes, but I wanted to photograph him just the way he was as he came through the door. John was thrilled, and we disappeared into my studio. We start. We do not talk. We communicate through body language and looks; glances. At some point, I start to play music. John plays along. After half an hour, my first word, “Pause?”. No, no break, no interruption. Second part.
We continue, fully focussed. Many magic moments. The hour is up.
Thank you.
That’s how it goes, how things work, that’s how magic is created, and that’s how I wanted to continue working. But could I make it work with other artists?
The synchronisation needs sometimes more, sometimes less time, but once we click, we’re off. And the work is intense. Everyone gives everything they’ve got; in the end, we’re not exhausted but rather surprised how much energy is generated when you are reduced to (or focussed on) yourself and the one other person in the room with you, your counterpart.
TOBIAS MORETTI, “You are like a child: allowed to do anything. Roll around on the floor, rheumatism or not.”
JULIA MORETTI, “You look as if you had slept for two hours. What did Lukas do with you?”
KURDWIN AYUB, “It was a bit like therapy. I wanted to cry.”
LILITH HÄSSLE, “I don’t know what to say. I have just looked through the pictures – they are fantastic; I see a different aspect of myself, different from other shootings.
The movement created these beautiful shades, which I love.”
JOSEF HADER, “All I need is “One Hour With”, when the
cough comes back.”
The exhibition consists of large-format photographs and contact sheets that tell a story almost like a film. One Hour With captivates its audience; allowing them to look over the photographer’s shoulder while he is working, allowing them to witness the creative process.
What I think makes a good portrait?
JOHN MALKOVICH arrived with a suitcase full of clothes, but I wanted to photograph him just the way he was as he came through the door. John was thrilled, and we disappeared into my studio. We start. We do not talk. We communicate through body language and looks; glances. At some point, I start to play music. John plays along. After half an hour, my first word, “Pause?”. No, no break, no interruption. Second part.
We continue, fully focussed. Many magic moments. The hour is up.
Thank you.
That’s how it goes, how things work, that’s how magic is created, and that’s how I wanted to continue working. But could I make it work with other artists?
The synchronisation needs sometimes more, sometimes less time, but once we click, we’re off. And the work is intense. Everyone gives everything they’ve got; in the end, we’re not exhausted but rather surprised how much energy is generated when you are reduced to (or focussed on) yourself and the one other person in the room with you, your counterpart.
TOBIAS MORETTI, “You are like a child: allowed to do anything. Roll around on the floor, rheumatism or not.”
JULIA MORETTI, “You look as if you had slept for two hours. What did Lukas do with you?”
KURDWIN AYUB, “It was a bit like therapy. I wanted to cry.”
LILITH HÄSSLE, “I don’t know what to say. I have just looked through the pictures – they are fantastic; I see a different aspect of myself, different from other shootings.
The movement created these beautiful shades, which I love.”
JOSEF HADER, “All I need is “One Hour With”, when the
cough comes back.”
The exhibition consists of large-format photographs and contact sheets that tell a story almost like a film. One Hour With captivates its audience; allowing them to look over the photographer’s shoulder while he is working, allowing them to witness the creative process.
What I think makes a good portrait?
Timelessness.
Rebecca Horner
ONE HOUR WITH is a long-term photographic project about presence, trust, and time.
One artist.
One black space.
Very specific light.
No words.
Exactly one hour.
One black space.
Very specific light.
No words.
Exactly one hour.
Within this radically reduced setting, a state of deep concentration emerges. Without direction, without roles, without expectation, an inner process begins. The artists perform from within themselves – intuitively, physically, unfiltered. I accompany this process with the camera: attentive, silent, present.
Silence is not an absence, but a tool. It creates a space in which body language, gaze, and movement become carriers of meaning. What appears is not a staged portrait, but a state of being. A moment of truth between two people.
ONE HOUR WITH understands portrait photography not as representation, but as encounter. The resulting images are timeless, intense, and deeply personal – revealing vulnerability and strength, control and surrender.
The project continues to grow internationally, from one encounter to the next. Every hour is unique. Every meeting leaves traces – in the images, in the space, and in memory.
ONE HOUR WITH © Lukas Beck
Safira Robens
With some artists I have been working with for decades, only to
see them in a new light; other artists I have photographed for the
first time.
see them in a new light; other artists I have photographed for the
first time.
Verena Altenburger
Anouk Lamm Anouk
Kurdwin Ayub
Lisa Eckhart
Hila Fahima
Nikolaus Habjan
Josef Hader
Lilith Häßle
Xenia Hausner
Mavie Hörbiger
Rebecca Horner
Andrey Kaydanovskiy
Katharina Klar
Dörte Lyssewski
John Malkovich
Markus Meyer
Birgit Minichmayr
Lenz Moretti
Tobias Moretti
Nicholas Ofczarek
Caroline Peters
Herbert Pixner
Stefanie Reinsberger
Maresi Riegner
Safira Robens
Branko Samarovski
Nina Siewert
Marie-Luise Stockinger
Tilman Tuppy
Vivi Vassileva
Fritzi Wartenberg
Lili Winderlich
Anouk Lamm Anouk
Kurdwin Ayub
Lisa Eckhart
Hila Fahima
Nikolaus Habjan
Josef Hader
Lilith Häßle
Xenia Hausner
Mavie Hörbiger
Rebecca Horner
Andrey Kaydanovskiy
Katharina Klar
Dörte Lyssewski
John Malkovich
Markus Meyer
Birgit Minichmayr
Lenz Moretti
Tobias Moretti
Nicholas Ofczarek
Caroline Peters
Herbert Pixner
Stefanie Reinsberger
Maresi Riegner
Safira Robens
Branko Samarovski
Nina Siewert
Marie-Luise Stockinger
Tilman Tuppy
Vivi Vassileva
Fritzi Wartenberg
Lili Winderlich
to be continued …
ONE HOUR WITH © Lukas Beck