Belf(e)ast
1971
Photography, 47 x 34 cm.
Materials: photo emulsion, canvas
Collection: Collection M HKA, Antwerp (Inv. no. BK3953).
In his poesia visiva De Vree generally incorporates photographic material in the form of collages, accompanied on occasion by an ironic or satirical commentary, which means to address the viewer’s conscience and awareness by triggering all kinds of associations. Belf(e)ast was composed in the wake of Bloody Sunday. De Vree here superimposes two photographs: the upper picture shows two British soldiers on patrol with their rifles at the ready, while the lower picture shows a row of detainees with their hands against a wall. Between the two photographs, the word ‘Belfast’ has been ironically distorted into ‘Belf(e)ast’.