Portfolio Category - LCEA 2013

In 'Radical Camp’ I reflect upon the current rise of isolated, domestic terrorist groups in the US and Europe. I aim to explore their structure and often amateurish, irrational approach. I have constructed a series of stylized images focusing on a small but disparate group of men and women trained by their leader for a horrifying mission. My cast is shown in various group scenarios ranging from moments of group bonding, mission briefing and gun training, to a body guarded cult leader speech to underscore the complexity of such self-organized terrorist groups. Some pictures allude to specific Cults and infamous terrorist organizations in the past. (Jim Jones and The People’s Temple Massacre, David Koresh, The German Baader Meinhof Group). Sinister mug shot portraits of individual group members break up the narrative to foreshadow what is to come: the group's inevitable arrest. By constructing an intricate narrative I try to convey that as with extremist groups the need for social acceptance often outweighs ideology. Radical Camp is about the sudden radicalization of previously apolitical, marginalized individuals today and in history. It depicts a deadly serious fictional scenario that could happen here and now.