top of page

Anthropocene 

_C290367.jpg

Sep 28, 2018 to Feb 24, 2019

There’s a momentous exhibit at the National Gallery in Ottawa. The title of this sobering collection of photos and video is ‘Anthropocene’ which an introductory panel states is a word ‘Proposed as a new geological epoch…defined by massive changes that have occurred to the planet and its ecosystems as a result of human activities.’

 

The exhibit is a pretty scene (of the planet) being destroyed before our eyes. Large tablets are provided for your viewing pleasure. For this, Edward Burtynsky, Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier have assembled a jarring collection of up-to-date imagery spanning the globe.

 

It begins with an express ride through Switzerland’s 57 km Gotthard Tunnel — longest RR tunnel in the world — followed by a gorgeous remnant of British Columbia rain forests and continues with scenes of Earthly beauty and their destruction, all of which enables us to live the way we do.

_C290350.jpg
_C290354.jpg
_C290365.jpg
_C290360.jpg

Edward Burtynsky

Clearcut #3, Palm Oil Plantation

Borneo, Malaysia 2016

_C290370.jpg

Jennifer Baichwal + Nicholas de Pencier

Elephant Tusk Burn, Nairobi National Park, Kenya 2018

video

_C290388.jpg

Afterwards we walked through the gallery corridor (this is a BIG place) to the Scotiabank Great Hall for desserts and discussion about how we're all part of this surreal catastrophe.

_C290384.jpg
_C290381.jpg
_C290356.jpg

Photos, intro text and layout

© Gary Crallé 2019

bottom of page