This vivid portrait captures a performer portraying an “Anachrome,” a fantastical character from a parade procession. Adorned in a patchwork of vibrant shapes and face paint, he embodies resistance against a devil spirit that drains color from the world. His handmade wire contraption serves as symbolic armor, blending medieval aesthetics with imaginative folklore. Bold and expressive, the image reflects a rich narrative of survival through creativity and spectacle.

Photographed at the 2012 Zinneke Parade event in Brussels, Belgium. The image was retouched and a blended texture was added to achieve a painterly effect. (May 2012)

• My other portraits and scenes from the Zinneke Parade