Edward Burtynsky

New Works

Flowers Gallery is proud to present Edward Burtynsky - New Works. The solo exhibition coincides with Saatchi Gallery's major 2024 retrospective, BURTYNSKY: EXTRACTION / ABSTRACTION, the largest exhibition ever mounted in Edward Burtynsky's 40+ year career.

Edward Burtynsky - New Works offers a compelling journey into the intersection of nature and industry, capturing the awe-inspiring beauty and the environmental consequences of human industrial activities. This exhibition brings together a selection of Burtynsky's recent works, focusing on three geological themes: Coast Mountains in British Columbia, Canada; erosion in Türkiye; and the coal mines in Australia.

Burtynsky's aerial lens captures the pristine grandeur of the Coast Mountains of British Columbia while also highlighting the pressing issue of glacier retreat due to global warming. His photographs of Türkiye reveal the profound impact of erosion on the terrain, and his images of the world's largest coal port, dominating the shores of Newcastle, unveil the stark and expansive landscapes and the environmental implications of the global energy demand.

Burtynsky reflects: "Recent reports on the world's remaining glaciers provide sobering news. Estimates are that most of Western Canada's glaciers will be lost to melting within the next 80 years. By the end of this century, they could all be gone. My daughters, who are in their 20s, will not be looking at the same world when they are my age. These images are a reminder of what's being lost - relics of ancient ice and an essential resource for ecosystems and freshwater in these parts of the world."

Edward Burtynsky's photography is a testament to a lifelong observation of humanity's interaction with the natural world and the environmental consequences of industrial processes. Burtynsky invites viewers to explore places that exist beyond our common experience-places that satisfy our immediate needs while determining the future of our habitat. His work serves as a critical reminder of what is at stake and the essential role that art can play in raising ecological awareness.