Edward Burtynsky: Unearthed

Edward Burtynsky: Unearthed features newly released photographs from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is one of several locations Burtynsky has selected to focus on for his forthcoming project, titled Mining for the Future. In order to reach net zero in the context of climate change, there is an increased demand for minerals such as lithium, copper, and cobalt which has resulted in a need for an acceleration in mining. Due to aircraft restrictions in the DRC, Burtynsky used a drone to capture the copper mine's remarkable colour and scale. Tiny figures can be seen upon close inspection in some of the images. They are independent miners that are sifting through the dry tailings for trace amounts of cobalt which they sell in what is a complex and unregulated supply chain that ultimately lands in cell phones, among other devices, across the globe.

 

Also included in the exhibition are new releases from the United States and Canada. In 2024, Burtynsky visited Olympic National Park, a rainforest in Washington State. One year prior, he shot the Coast Mountains in British Columbia from the vantage point of a helicopter. These examples of pristine nature are intended to inspire hope while also serving as a counterpoint to his photographs of human intervention. They expand on his exploration into our complex and evolving relationship with the natural world.