Edward Burtynsky has spent 15 years photographing oil ;
from the fields where it is sourced, to the cars it powers, to the detritus it
leaves behind. His photographs poetic and stunning, portray a reality few of us
know, and unfortunately in this case, fewer of us realise. Shocking the altered
landscapes as may seem, they are unavoidably recognised as the doing of man ;
nature was rarely involved.
Oil Field, Bakersfield , California
Oil Field, Socar , Azerbaijan
In Byrtynski’s words :
“Nature transformed through
industry is a predominant theme in my work. I set course to intersect with a
contemporary view of the great ages of man; from stone, to minerals, oil,
transportation, silicon, and so on. To make these ideas visible I search for
subjects that are rich in detail and scale yet open in their meaning. Recycling
yards, mine tailings, quarries and refineries are all places that are outside
of our normal experience, yet we partake of their output on a daily basis.”
Dismantling
the Tankers, Bangladesh
Dismantling
the Tankers, Bangladesh
“These images are meant as
metaphors to the dilemma of our modern existence; they search for a dialogue
between attraction and repulsion, seduction and fear. We are drawn by desire -
a chance at good living, yet we are consciously or unconsciously aware that the
world is suffering for our success. Our dependence on nature to provide the
materials for our consumption and our concern for the health of our planet sets
us into an uneasy contradiction. For me, these images function as reflecting
pools of our times.”
BP Oil
Spill, gulf of Mexico, April 2010
Burtynsky, photographs the
calamity for nature, caused by man. He visits mines and quarries, goes where
production is heavy in Australia
and China
+logo-w200.png)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.