World-renowned Canadian photographer, Edward Burtynsky, is known for challenging the way we see our world through his large-scale depictions of humanity's astonishing ability to transform the natural environment, as demonstrated by the seminal works Manufactured Landscapes.
His imagery explores the intricate link between industry and nature, combining the raw elements of mining, quarrying, manufacturing, shipping, oil production and recycling into eloquent, highly expressive visions that find beauty and humanity in the most unlikely of places.
He links his early exposure to our impact on the natural environment to the sites and images of the General Motors plant in his hometown St. Catharines to the development of his photographic work.
A resident of Toronto, Burtynsky is joining up with environmental lawyer and President of Waterkeeper Alliance, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to raise money for the environmental group Lake Ontario Waterkeeper.
In his forthcoming photographic essay, Burtynsky focuses on the most important environmental issue of the 21st century: water.
The following is a question and answer with Edward Burtynsky, co-host of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper's 10th anniversary gala.
Q: You have been doing a photographic essay on water for some time. What drew you to this subject?
A: Water, like many other resources is harvested, transported and used throughout all aspects of society. Unlike other resources, water is critical to the survival of all forms of life. The underlying question that sits at the core of my exploration is to what degree can we shape water before it begins to shape us.
Q: Your work is not overly activist, and yet it carries a very powerful message. How do you negotiate that line?
A: By not simplifying the work into either a "right" or "wrong" category. The bigger question is how does a rogue species called humans - whose population just blew through the seven billion mark on it's way to nine billion members -- manage to survive the next century on a planet with finite resources, without destroying its delicate balance in the process.
Q: Why is the work that Waterkeepers do important to you?
A: They take a very practical approach to keeping water clean and sustainable; they go after polluters with mountains of evidence and take them to court.
Q: What piece in the auction would you bid on, if you had the chance?
A: Ed Bartram.
Q: When you put your camera down, what is your favourite water body to visit?
A: Lake Miskokway northeast of Parry Sound in August.
The Waterkeeper Gala presented by RBC takes place on Tuesday, February 7 at Corus Quay in Toronto. Edward Burtynsky along with co-host Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will be joined by leaders from the worlds of art, business, sports and entertainment to raise money for a swimmable, drinkable, fishable Lake Ontario. www.waterkeeper.ca/gala