The Scars of Globalisation

African Studies marks the fourth solo show of Edward Burtynsky’s work at the Springer Gallery in Berlin. For the past several decades, the internationally renowned photographer has been driven by his deep concern for our planet – documenting the impact of human ambition on the environment in unnerving, yet visually outstanding images. 

Created over the course of seven years, the artist’s latest series spotlights the rapid industrialisation of the African continent, which is most likely the last expansion of this magnitude worldwide. The featured images were captured in ten sub-Saharan countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Senegal and South Africa. 

African Studies juxtaposes dramatic bird’s-eye-views of mining sites for sulphur, coal, ores, diamonds and salt, with breathtaking images showing the fragile beauty of Namibia’s natural landscapes, which are still largely untouched. 

The series is also available in the form of a book, released by Steidl Publishing in 2022.