The world from above: A new perspective on climate change
Climate change is a complex and often overwhelming issue, but a new exhibition at the Eden Project in Cornwall, England, offers a unique and powerful way to view its impact. Extinction: Renewal, Art of a Living Planet, brings together photography, film, and sculpture to create a journey through time and space, from deep time to a more hopeful future. The show's main contribution is in the present: how the world is now, not how it was or how we'd like it to be. And many of the photographs on display share an interesting approach: to see things as they really are, you first have to gain some altitude.
One of the most striking images in the exhibition is Daniel Beltrá's shot of Iceland's Høvíta River. From above, the river's blues and golds, formed by a mixture of glacial meltwater and sediment, marble together in a way that resembles an abstract painting. This image is a testament to the beauty and complexity of nature, and how a change in perspective can reveal new and fascinating details. It also serves as a reminder that climate change is not just about the future, but about the present, and the impact it is having on our world right now.
Another powerful image is Sebastião Salgado's aerial shot of Alaska's Brooks Range. This image brings the entire mountain range and its river system into a single composition, awe-inspiring in its breadth and detail. It is a reminder of the vastness and beauty of our planet, and how climate change is affecting even the most remote and untouched places. The image also serves as a call to action, urging viewers to consider the impact of their actions on the environment.
Paul Nicklen's drone shot of a polar bear crossing sea ice is another striking image. From above, the bear is just a single white shape next to a crack in the ice. This image strips away the sentimentality and human-animal connection that we might feel from ground level, leaving us with a clean, almost geometrical composition. It is a powerful reminder of the vulnerability of wildlife in the face of climate change, and the need for urgent action.
Richard Mosse's shot of log barges from above is another interesting image. His use of infrared, rendering the vegetation red and water black, is an inspired decision, swapping objectivity for a clear editorial line in the visual itself. This image serves as a reminder that climate change is not just an environmental issue, but also a social and economic one, and that the impact of human activity is evident in even the most industrial settings.
The exhibition is not just about aesthetics, nor is it just about using drones because they are fashionable. It is about pulling countless small details into a broader picture that reveals larger patterns and deeper truths. And that fits well into the spirit of the show, which is less about doom, gloom, and wringing our hands in despair, and more about providing solutions and a positive vision of the future. The lesson for photographers here is clear: whether you're shooting wildlife, landscapes, or other natural phenomena, there's often an argument for stepping back, up, and outwards from the detail, and seeing things from a wider perspective that can tell an altogether different story.
In my opinion, this exhibition is a powerful reminder of the impact of climate change on our world, and the need for urgent action. It is also a testament to the power of art and photography to raise awareness and inspire change. As viewers, we have the opportunity to see the world from a new perspective, and to consider the impact of our actions on the environment. The exhibition is a call to action, urging us to take a step back and think about the bigger picture, and to consider the solutions and positive vision of the future that are possible if we work together.
Extinction: Renewal, Art of a Living Planet runs at the Eden Project, Bodelva, St Austell, Cornwall, PL24 2SG. The exhibition is open from September 17-27, 10:00-17:00; September 28-October 16, 10:00-16:00; October 17-November 01, 10:00-17:00; and November 02-January 03, with varying opening times. I highly recommend visiting this exhibition to see the world from a new perspective and to consider the impact of climate change on our planet.
