Don Juan Matis (2020) Painting by Marc Carniel

Painting portraits of First Nations’ chiefs is above all painting a whole world, a philosophy, it is about keeping alive the story of our humanity.

Before Europeans arrived in America, the indigenous population was estimated to be between 1.2 million and 5 million.
After their genocide the population was reduced to 250,000.

Not wanting to get involved in judgmental polemic, painting the Native Americans’ universe means painting history, honoring mankind in context.
Here the context is the opposition between people thanking the earth for what it gives them and people wanting to possess it, to occupy the land not belonging to them.

Painting a First Natives’ world is painting the duality between those who are and those who take, it is witnessing the tension that governs the world.

I use historical photographs to start with. These pictures have visually captured Native Americans in captivity.
Despite the seeming defeat these portraits convey a nobleness, a timelessness I try to develop pictorially.

The desire to conquer territorial space was achieved with the extension of the "railroad" and to allow its progression it was necessary to use the force of arms.
Consequently I am expanding the theme to painting trains, period weaponry, buffaloes...
This pictorial theme is very contemporary.

This is highlighted with the many science fiction movies where man seeks to invade other planets. From steam engines to flying saucers.
Cinematographic fiction today foretells the reality of tomorrow. The process of stealing and destroying The Earth’s resources is well engraved in human mentality.

Marc Carniel

Related themes

Natives AmericansGloryUsaPortraitFar West