BELGOPOLIS

BY PAUL D’HAESE

Paul D'Haese studied photography at the academies of Anderlecht (BE) (graduated in 2000) and Sint-Niklaas (BE) (1997). He participated in a masterclass with the British landscape photographer John Davies in 1993 (Alden Biesen, BE). Since then he has participated in numerous photographic projects and collaborated in publications of "Jaarboek Architectuur" (VAI).
He has exhibited on numerous occasions, including G. C. De Markten, the KVS, the Kaaitheater in Brussels, as well as the Cultural Center of Hasselt and Artistic Platform Zebrastraat in Ghent. He received in 1998 the Award of the Unesco's friends as part of the 12th National Award of Photography, Museum of Photography in Charleroi. His photographs are in the collections of the museum and those of the Province of Flemish Brabant. The first edition of the 'Canvascollectie' (2008) has retained its image during exposure at the Bozar in Brussels.
In 2016 he was laureate of the Magnum Photography Award, with the "Belgopolis" series.
He also works on commissioned assignments by cultural organizations, architects and compagnies.
Lives and works in Ternat, near Brussels.

Synopsis

Belgopolis (working title)

An intermediate representation of the building of a imaginary city in which one can have an amazing walk, the development of an intriguing city of subtly refined banality and surrealism. Paul D'Haese presents excerpts from urban areas in 133 Belgian cities. (1 photo in each city). He shows images that refer to an imaginary world. They are sleek and minimalist, clear and strange at the same time. This is usually to objects, spaces or structures that are strange or confusing to come across, within the context in which they are.