A big hand for Jose Enrique Montes Hernandez' enigmatic Manos series

Some portfolios grab you immediately, like an angry but stereotypical dog attacking a bewildered postman, but others work on you less directly, like a…ok I’m out of similes but you get the idea. Jose Enrique Montes Hernandez is an El Salvador-born, Montreal-based photographer whose work initially seems to be skilfully if recognisably on-trend. But within his portfolio are projects that wrongfoot you, such as this Manos series which is all about multiplicity and a disconcertingly unwavering focus on slightly different actions. There’s no explanation, no context and dates on his work all of which I feel rather adds to the enigmatic charm.