Edward Burtynsky focuses on how water plays a critical role
in all living things. In Colorado River
Delta #1 and Colorado River Delta 2, his landscapes shows vast areas that have not seen water in over
40 years. Phosphor Tailings Pond #2
has vein-like trails that weave in and out of a depleting waterway where local
birds struggle to survive. Burtynsky’s
concerns are how the world consumes and controls water, which has put the planet under great distress.
Burtynsky’s abstract photographs ironically show the
Colorado River dried up and withering away, meanwhile the images looks like tree[s]-of-life. Phosphor Tailings Pond looks like a delicate
cardiovascular system with it’s veined design and pale blue hues. Burtynsky's biomorphic-like compositions could easily be mistaken for something else. For example, a woman approached me at the museum and asked me what this exhibit was about, stating "I don't get it." When I explained to her what she was seeing, she was in disbelief, which brought more emphasis to the meaning of Burtynsky's work.
Burtynsky’s work brings awareness of
our planet’s health to the viewer's eye. As an artist, I might focus on the brilliant green neighborhood yards or research the recycling community to see how much material actually gets reused and where does the rest of it go. I feel that Burtynsky’s large-scale compositions
magnify his message, which is very effective.
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