Marc Verbeek
Mechelen, Belgium
Summer 2026 * Photography
Artist Statement
In my project New Dawn, I identify colonialism as an important historical cause of the current global concentration of prosperity and power and investigate its impact on the modern individual worldwide. Colonialism laid the foundations for the current structures of international trade. New Dawn is a story of hope, and the belief that a shift in our paradigm is possible, which can lead to a more balanced distribution of wealth. Sculptural images serve as a reflection of the current global tension, individual vulnerability and personal desire for balance and stability.
The storyline is supported by two figures from film and literature who represent the two extremes on the scale of power distribution: Gulliver (Gulliver's Travels, chapter 1 – illustrations, book from 1726) and Scott (The Incredible Shrinking Man – film from 1957). Gulliver – as a giant – uses his power to influence society, while Scott – who begins to shrink daily after exposure to a radioactive cloud – loses all power over his own life.
The artist in the studio. ©
Works
New Dawn © Marc Verbeek
About the Artist
Marc Verbeek is a Belgian visual artist working in expanded photography, combining constructed photography and sculpture to investigate historical and contemporary structures of power. Rooted in sociological inquiry, Verbeek's practice examines the historical and contemporary forces that shape power relations, vulnerability, and the conditions of everyday life. Through carefully constructed studio environments, Verbeek creates images in which materiality becomes a carrier of meaning. Fragile structures, miniature figures, and precarious assemblages evoke worlds held together by temporary balances, reflecting broader questions of social instability, inequality, resilience and personal vulnerability.
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