Arts & Culture

Carl de Keyzer’s Trinity

Belgian photographer Carl de Keyzer's explores the theme of world power inspired by the history of classical painting

Carl De Keyzer

Carl De Keyzer Fleet Week - Annual American Navy show. New recruits. San Francisco, California, USA. 2000. © Carl De Keyzer | Magnum Photos
Carl De Keyzer Airshow and military fair to present the new Stealth bomber. Organised by the US military and the Pentagon. Fort Edwards, USA. 1992. © Carl De Keyzer | Magnum Photos
Carl De Keyzer Inaugural days for President elect Bill Clinton. Mc Laughlin Group gala reception. Washington DC., USA. 1993. © Carl De Keyzer | Magnum Photos
Carl De Keyzer Our Lady of Guadalupe church. Good Friday Procession (sponsored by Coca Cola). San Antonio, USA. 1990. © Carl De Keyzer | Magnum Photos
Carl De Keyzer 50th anniversary of the UN. Arrival of President Fidel Castro. New York City, USA. 1995. © Carl De Keyzer | Magnum Photos
Carl De Keyzer Boris Jeltsin presidential campaign. Moscow, Russia. 1996. © Carl De Keyzer | Magnum Photos
Carl De Keyzer Soldiers guarding the airport. Mitwaba, Katanga, Congo. 2006. © Carl De Keyzer | Magnum Photos
Carl De Keyzer Orom refugee camp, Uganda. 2005. © Carl De Keyzer | Magnum Photos
Carl De Keyzer Capitol Hill. Great Rotunda. Washington DC., USA. 2005. © Carl De Keyzer | Magnum Photos
Carl De Keyzer Capitol Hill. Foreign relations committee. To vote on the nomination of John Bolton to be US representative to the United Nations. Senators Joe Biden (D-Del), Christopher Dodd (D-Conn) and John Ker (...)
Carl De Keyzer Capitol Hill. Russell. Senate Office building. Washington DC., USA 2005. © Carl De Keyzer | Magnum Photos
Carl De Keyzer European Parliament. Strasbourg, France. 2005. © Carl De Keyzer | Magnum Photos
Carl De Keyzer Fifth Session of the Tenth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Beijing, China. 2007. © Carl De Keyzer | Magnum Photos

Carl de Keyzer’s photography project on world power is inspired by the history of classical painting. Each part refers to a painting by its subject and format and tries to explore in a conceptual way the mechanisms of power and history.

Most things come in three. A trinity structure has occurred during many reigns, empires, and organized religion: 1. The leaders or gods, 2. the army or avenging creatures and 3. the people or representatives.

Figurative painting or drawing was, for a long time, the source for historical reflection and reporting. Format, color, glorification, imposing frames, mise en scène were elements of persuasion to create an overwhelming feeling of history and testimony.

"By going back to the idea of one large image representing a situation I try to reintroduce the element of time in dealing with images of reality
"

- Carl De Keyzer

Now, television and printed media have taken over this concept. 30 images per second and millions of pictures per day determine and influence in a direct or indirect way the global opinion and give a thin notion of reality and opinion. World leaders like CNN are the perfect example.

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