There was a time when a politician was a person you elected to lead your country.
You elected this person because of the ideals and principles she represented.
You elected this person because you wanted her to enact change.
At the end of the term, you re-elected her if you still believed in her.
There was a time when a politician was a person who wanted to lead the country.
She ran for election because she believed in ideals and principles.
She ran for election because she wanted to change the world.
At the end of the term she was re-elected if she had been true to her ideals and principles.
There was a time when being a politician was a vocation and a privilege.
There was a time when leadership was about doing what’s right for the country.
There was a time when fearing the judgment of the people made you unfit to lead.
There was a time when politicians were judged by their ability to lead.
What else do you need to know about your politician?
As a result of Opposition leader Helle Thornings Schmidts tax scandal, her party has now lost 4 %-points (27,3% to 23,3%) in the course of a month. Before the summer holiday Helle stood to win the next election and oust the incumbent government. This ground has now been lost.
But fear not Helle, I am sure your party will be able to dig out some dirt on the incumbents.
I am moving ahead with the first of the contrafactual portraits of hypocritical danish politicians – the pillory series due to be finished next year. The series will feature the leaders of the major danish political parties.
As it is, the danish political climate is marred by scandals and personal attacks.
There’s little room left for politicians actually seeking to discuss POLITICS.
It’s a tragedy.
So much is threatening the wellfare of the Danish society: Financial crisis, unemployment, a failed public shool, crippled competitiveness in terms of exports and attracting qualified workers, a morally bankrupt immigration and refugee policy.
None of this is debated by the key “presidents” of each party as they fear losing their constituencies. Instead they focus on front politics meant to signal the party line and garner more votes and better polls. By the way, party lines are somewhat blurred now that every party is aiming for the middle ground.
I am revolted by the fact that NO SINGLE major politician has the discipline to adhere to principles and ideals. It has now become a battle for the lowest common denominator.
Stay tuned for more uncovering portraits as we move along the path towards the pillory.
I took the opportunity the dig out some old footage from NYC the other day.
It’s a documentary series shot on 9-11 and the following days.
The photos were shot on my trusty old Canon APS camera and I haven’t done much but applying some levels and curves in photoshop to try and counter the inherent noise in the original processed negatives.
Not much of a good time to look at, but I had to share these images that still haunt my mind.
I have spent the past couple of weeks with my family in the little town of Vankiva in Sweden. It’s an idyllic little village in Skåne: a church, a pond and lots of cows on green pastures.
We have been relaxing with friends, delicious food and wine. Basically having a good time!
In the meantime alot has happened on the political scene, the danish opposition leader Helle Thorning Schmidt is in stormy weather over a tax scandal, and I took this a cue to continue my work on the pillory project which is due to be shown in february next year. The project is a testament to the everpresent hypocrisy of politicians everywhere. No need to look at failed states to find that.
The exact venue isn’t locked down yet, but will be in the coming weeks.
The current piece I am working on features none other than Helle herself. I started working on it before the tax scandal really gained momentum, and now Helle and the press are keeping themselves more busy than ever.
Pillory
Pronunciation: \ˈpi-lə-rē, ˈpil-rē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural pil·lo·ries
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French pilori
Date: 13th century
1 : a device formerly used for publicly punishing offenders consisting of a wooden frame with holes in which the head and hands can be locked
2 : a means for exposing one to public scorn or ridicule
“Burnt-out Humvee at Amalienborg Palace” from Artworks by Carl Frederik Waage Beck
I am thinking about the Danish soldiers in Afghanistan these days.
Two separate events have fueled this.
Danish Colonel Lars Møller published his book “we kill – and live with it”
Danish documentary director Janus Metz’ Cannes screening of his Documentary titled “Armadillo” shot in Helmand, Afghanistan.
Both [...]
I decided today that I was going to get started on my HDR journey, and I have now spent a great deal of time on Trey Ratcliffs excellent blog “Stuck in Customs”
Trey makes some amazing HDR photography and I really encourage you to check it out. Temples, Fireworks, Sunrises – it all looks great!
Anyhow, since [...]
These days,
one need not look far for artistic inspiration.
Here’s a short clip from my windowsill. The world is getting smaller, flatter, more crowded etc…
Enjoy, Carl
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Dear friends,
A few months ago I wrote a post called morality vs. democracy about the Iraqis asylum seekers that took refuge in Brorsons church on Nørrebro.
By order of the Minister for Refugees, Immigrants and Integration and for Ecclesiastical Affairs, Birthe Rønn Hornbech, the church was emptied by the Danish police at 2 am august 13th. [...]
“The 12th imam?” From Artworks by Carl Frederik Waage Beck
Dear friends,
these days something is happening in Iran which hopefully will improve the ability of thousands to speak their mind and express themselves however they see fit.
I am not trying to promote a certain political view here, but when artists, writers and people in general are [...]
Founder of the "Copenhagen Stuckists", Carl Beck has since 2005 emerged as a controversial community activist artist working under the pseudonym "Paintshooter"
As a former FX-trader in the global currency markets, Carl Beck has now turned his attention to the individual in a globalized world. The work of Carl Beck has hung in group and solo shows in Denmark and France.
Founder of the "Copenhagen Stuckists", Carl Beck has since 2005 emerged as a controversial community activist artist working under the pseudonym "Paintshooter"
As a former FX-trader in the global currency markets, Carl Beck has now turned his attention to the individual in a globalized world. The work of Carl Beck has hung in group and solo shows in Denmark and France. 
