The program of Palazzo della Ragione, the new exhibition space in Milan entirely dedicated to photography inaugurated in June 2014 in the heart of the city, is enriched by the intense photographic work that Edward Burtynsky has dedicated to the primary resource par excellence, water, to its presence in nature and its exploitation by man.
Edward Burtynsky, a great interpreter of international photography, has always documented the effects of our progress on the planet. Through in-depth research and long journeys he has discovered and recounted realities that are only apparently distant, but closely connected to the future of mankind.
Natural resources are at the center of his work and after the fascinating images of quarries and the magnificent series dedicated to oil, in recent years he has turned to the study of the primary source of life on earth.
Acqua Shock collects 60 photographs divided into seven chapters – Gulf of Mexico, Devastations, Control, Agriculture, Aquaculture, Banks, Sources – the analysis of all aspects related to the origin and use of water: from river deltas to step wells, from aquatic crops to center pivot irrigation, from dehydrated landscapes to essential springs.
“Splendid images – says Enrica Viganò – mirror of a truth that we do not want to face: the most precious liquid is not eternal! The extraordinary beauty of the scenarios photographed by Burtynsky invites us to reflect, after having enchanted our gaze with the charm of the sublime".
The documentary “Where I Stand” (10 min.) produced by Studio Burtynsky will be screened in the exhibition to involve visitors in the production process of these magnificent images. In more than thirty years of career, the artist who has always photographed great views has been able and willing to update the technique of her shots and reveals its secrets to us. For the water project Burtynsky made extensive use of drones, helicopters and structures to be able to look down on his subjects.
Edward Burtynsky will participate in the Water Festival underway in Milan from 5 to 9 October 2015 at the Castello Sforzesco.
Edward Burtynsky is known as one of Canada's most respected photographers. His extraordinary photographic depictions of industrial landscapes are included in the collections of over sixty of the world's leading museums, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in California. Burtynsky was born in 1955 in St. Catharines, Ontario to Ukrainian parents. He graduated from Ryerson University with a BA in Applied Arts specializing in Photography / Media Studies in 1982, and in 1985 founded Toronto Image Works, which offered darkroom rental, custom photo lab, digital imaging, and imaging center services. computer training to the entire Toronto arts community. Observation of the sites and images of the General Motors plant in his hometown laid the foundation for his photographic work. His imagery explores the collective impact we humans are having on the surface of the planet, the control we have imposed on natural landscapes. Among his exhibitions: Water (2013) at the New Orleans Museum of Art & Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, Oil (2009) at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington DC, China, Manufactured Landscapes at the National Gallery of Canada, and Before the Flood (2003). His photographs appear in numerous periodicals each year, including Canadian Art, Art in America, The Smithsonian Magazine, Harper's Magazine, Flash Art, Blind Spot, Art Forum, Saturday Night, National Geographic and The New York Times. Edward Burtynsky's accolades include the TED Award, the Outreach Award at Rencontres d'Arles, the Roloff Beny Book Award, and the Rogers Best Canadian Film Award. He sits on the board of directors of CONTACT, the Toronto International Photography Festival, and the Ryerson Image Centre's gallery. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2006 and currently holds six honorary doctorates.
The Edward Burtynsky exhibition. Acqua Shock is promoted and produced by the Municipality of Milan – Culture, Palazzo della Ragione, Civita, Contrasto and GAmm Giunti in collaboration with Admira and curated by Enrica Viganò.
The review is part of Expo in the city, the schedule of initiatives that accompanies the cultural life of Milan during the semester of the Universal Exposition.
