Santu Mofokeng, Dust Storms at Noon on the R34 Between Welkom and Hennenman, Free State I 2007, printed 2011. Tate. © Santu Mofokeng, courtesy Maker, Johannesburg.
Explore photographs that trace the environmental and human impact of industrial activity on the natural world
Photography was invented in the early 19th century. From the start, it was used to record landscapes and how they change over time. Some made photographic records to measure, control and claim ownership of land.
Industrial expansion and the development of technology transformed how people lived and worked. This paralleled the development of photography. Technological changes triggered population growth, massive extraction of natural resources, environmental destruction and pollution.
The destructive effects of large-scale industry continue to impact the whole world. The interrelated causes and consequences of the environmental crisis are complex. Photography can show, or help us imagine, how global capitalism affects the planet and its inhabitants. Photographers and artists have responded in different ways. You can explore a range of these strategies in this display.