01 / 04

Political Landscapes

Over the years Magnum Photos and it's photographers have explored the notion of landscape photography, from the 'Magnum Landscape' publication (Phaidon 1997) to more recent and personal projects by photographers such as Carl De Keyzer and Stuart Franklin.
This exhibition seeks to take the concept one step further by specifically highlighting issue-based material both from our archive and from contemporary projects. These self-contained compositions contrast with traditional journalistic narrative, yet represent the same passion for recording the political nature of our engagement with the world.

The lines between art and documentary practice both within and outside the agency are becoming increasingly blurred and landscape photography is a genre at the forefront of these changes. Today it is hard to escape the politicization of landscape imagery, most notably with regards to environmental issues, but also in theoretical terms with the recognition given to “aftermath photography” a genre of contemporary practice most commonly associated with large format images, referencing the Tableau D’Histoire tradition in painting and produced for a gallery rather than editorial context.

Included in this exploratory exhibition is new work from Carl De Keyzer's ongoing project 'Moments Before the Flood', exploring issues of both climate change and immigration in an interactive project that saw him nominated for last year’s Prix Pictet Award. Also featured is work from Stuart Franklin's acclaimed documentary project 'Footprint: Our Landscape In Flux', which looks at man’s interaction with the natural environment and the changes wrought by climate change on European landscapes.

Other works include Donovan Wylie's 'Watchtower' series, Josef Koudelka's seminal work from 'Black Triangle' and Bruno Barbey's documentation of the effects of conflict on our landscapes.