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Industrial waste is never pretty, but as seen through photographer Edward Burtynsky's lens, undeniably, it looks fascinating. A collection of the photographer's works, "Manufactured Landscapes: The Photographs of Edward Burtynsky," shows June 29-Sept 18 at the Cantor Arts Center, Museum Way (off Palm Drive) at Stanford University.
Burtynsky photographs landscapes with a twist--or you could say, landscapes that have been twisted by industrial activity. Mining, oil refining, even recycling, can physically change the earth, and Burtynsky captures those changes in landscapes that often look otherworldly. The rigid geometry of a Vermont granite quarry could almost be the next construction project of the sinister Empire from Star Wars. A field of ships in various stages of disassembly resembles an alien city, with unidentifiable rusted structures dotting the land.
Although Burtynsky often photographs nature that has been radically altered, his photos are neither a celebration nor a condemnation of industry. His works offer a nontraditional view of what defines a landscape. The large scale of his photographs offers a detailed look at scenes most people rarely encounter.
"Manufactured Landscapes," which features 28 photographs, is the first major retrospective of Burtynsky's work.
Admission is free. For more information, call 650.723.4177 or visit http://ccva.stanford.edu/.
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