David Degelin: Photography as Therapy and Artistic Renewal

David Degelin, a Belgian photographer with a foundation in archaeology and anthropology, refers to photography as "the therapy that saved my life." He obtained a Master's in Archaeology from Louvain University and pursued further studies in Social and Cultural Anthropology. His career in the corporate world as a programmer and manager resulted in emotional burnout. With encouragement from his partner, he turned back to photography for healing. His artistic inspirations include Belgian Surrealists René Magritte and Paul Delvaux, Baroque art, Japanese ukiyo-e artists Utamaro and Hokusai, as well as photographers like Man Ray, Peter Lindbergh, and Helmut Newton. A notable piece from his series 'If the Wind Scares You,' featuring model Cassandra Balle in the dunes of Oostduinkerke, draws influence from Belgian Impressionist Anna Boch and delves into themes of solitude and redefined beauty. Degelin's approach has evolved from meticulous planning to a focus on intuition and collaboration, with plans to expand his 'Beauty of Solitude' series into the streets of Brussels alongside collaborators such as Qian, Clothilde, Cassandra, Silvy, Naomi, Sien, Ulrike, Mili, and Ekaterina.