Anthropocene

I have absolutely no 'political motivation' in posting this: **LINK**

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-49669971/the-photographer-capturing-mankind-s-impact-on-planet-earth

It is simply an extraordinay glimpse into Mankind's impact on our planet.

Please make of it whatever you will.

MichaelG.

It's true that problems need to be identified before proper solutions can be sought - but at the moment all we have is inarticulate howling about what's happening. That's what this art does - highlight problems without offering solutions.

The propositions for change are not executable without unacceptable or even unsurvivable consequences to many of us.

They would have looked better as volutes.

.

What would ?

.

Did you listen to what he was saying on the video ?

This art is not [or at least was not] trying to 'highlight problems' ... just to present what we are doing.

MichaelG.

Sorry to be obscure. I was referring to the circular patterns shown at the top of the video (I didn't watch the video itself).

And an observation, not politically motivated either, in his own words he travels the globe taking images - thus adding to the same impact humans have on the planet, that he captures in his images!

I interpreted the video as a catalogue,or observation, of human activity.

I didn't feel as if the artist was really trying to suggest any other point.

Maybe it's our own insecurities that make us view those images negatively.

Ducking for cover .....

ATB,

Daniel

I think the subtext is the same.

.

Thank You, Daniel

... I am not alone

MichaelG.

Michael's link presents a series of uncomfortable and thought provoking images but surely that's not a bad thing? Unless like a chocolate smeared toddler denying he ate all the cake, we really don't want to discuss the issues!

My excuse is I was only obeying orders.

Dave

.

Thanks for the clarification.

MichaelG.

I saw that earlier.

Personally, I find it heartbreaking...

Neil

Yes, it is Neil.

I believe the artist has achieved his objective. Producing such powerful images, where we have to question our own sensibilities.

I still maintain, however, that he maintains the position of a neutral documentalist.

ATB,

Daniel

Mr Burtynsky is following in the tradition of artists such as Loutherbourg with his "Coalbrookdale by Night".

What both of them capture has been aptly described as the "horribly sublime".

Not all of the images in the presentation represent catastrophe, precipitating Lithium salts by solar evaporation in ponds in a very arid area of Chile to me is greenhouse gas positive when it goes into electric storage batteries that replace carbon based fuels is a good thing. Not all industrial processes are bad.

The large scale production of food is essential to the survival of most but not all of worlds population without the terrible famines of the past. Regrettably Famine still exists, driven not by lack of food production, but by despotic politicians, not all of whom reside in the third world.

I think the images are a good thing the good, the bad and the ugly all equally represented.

Regards
John

Hi MichaelG, I understand your reason about no political motivation in your link, however politics creeps into just about everything even art, be it deliberate or consequential. The link shows some of the result of progress that mankind has imposed on the world. Progress is something that my mother always said "is a double edged sword" i.e. the edge of any sword is where both good and bad coexist. Every form of life exploits the Earth's resources in some form or other and to various degrees, otherwise they would die. The balance of exploitation is of course the key to the long term survival of the Earth, which always brings us back to politics in one form or another.

Stunning images in the link though and good photography.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 22/09/2019 08:55:09