Edward Burtynsky's photographs show the ingenuity and devastation of humankind

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In his largest ever retrospective, titled Extraction / Abstraction, Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky showcases the myriad ways humans have impacted our planet.
Burtynsky's large-format images, often shot from above, appear abstract with few points of reference to understand their scale. But draw closer and a devastating reality becomes apparent. Humans have scarred these landscapes through extraction, be that mining, the construction of cities and roads, the depositing of waste or farming practices. "I'm showing you these worlds in a way that you've probably never seen them," says Burtynsky. His aim is to "evoke maybe even a sense of wonder of the ingenuity of humankind, but also the troubling aspects of what we're doing as well".
However, Burtynsky hopes that people come away feeling positive "that we can solve these problems that we've created so cleverly", he says. "We have all the technology and tools that can solve the problem at our disposal. We've already invented it". He only wishes we'd started using these tools sooner.
Extraction / Abstraction is on show at the Saatchi Gallery in London until 6 May. Another exhibition, showing Burtynsky's New Works, is on show at Flowers Gallery in London from 28 February until 6 April.
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Пікірлер: 7

@dhickey5919 4 ай бұрын

I lived a block away from the office which saved on travel and energy to get there. I could see all the lights left on 24/7, 365 days a year from my home. Each desk in our computer lab floor had at least 2 desktop computers and usually 4 monitors. Everything left running all the time.

@gingafinga 3 ай бұрын

Turn them off?

@Rok.. 4 ай бұрын

It took me so many years to realize what positive and negative we apply to the world around us. Also my values changed and adapted multiple times. In the end I see that destruction of whatever is creating the disaster and creation is creation the solution. That reminds me on how I should talk, act, think and be. And I really feel what they say and show.

@natemickens88 4 ай бұрын

We've yet to leave a footprint large enough to outlast our own extiction.....This generational lifetime will just leave.

@Kargoneth 4 ай бұрын

Unfortunately, humans are too short-lived and myopic.

@jkyoft78 4 ай бұрын

These guys should speak for themselves and not on behalf of everyone else. Any photographer or film maker that has to explain his work, is not much of photographer or film maker.