Amazon Deforestation

Victor Moriyama, Brazil

Amazon Deforestation, 2019

Victor Moriyama, a Brazilian photojournalist, focuses his work on South America and the Amazon rainforest. Moriyama documents social and environmental violence in regards to agrarian conflicts, deforestation and conservation of rainforests, genocide of indigenous individuals, and climate change. This photograph is part of Moriyama’s “Amazon Deforestation” project, which highlights how the Amazon rainforest is faring under the control of Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro. Fire in the Amazon rainforest is primarily caused by humans as a result of ranching and logging, which can be defined as ecocide. This image is an aerial photograph, displaying how the scorched forest encroaches on the lush jungle landscape. The Amazon rainforest has an important role in regulating climate change and is home to diverse wildlife as well as thousands of indigenous people, which are all being disregarded and destroyed by fire for profit. Label by Elsa Rall

The Forest Brigade

Thiago Mundano, Brazilian, born 1986

The Forest Brigade, 2021

Thiago Mundano is an art activist born in São Paulo, Brazil, and is recognized internationally for his “papo reto” graffiti, or “straight to the point” pieces. In October 2021, the graffiti artist finished his vast mural (measuring about 10,000 square feet) titled The Forest Brigade. The mural was created entirely out of ash from the burned Amazon rainforest. While traveling to collect the ash, Mundano also met with firefighters and fire volunteers to hear their stories. Mundano’s mural depicts a firefighter at its center, placing the voices and stories of those who risk their lives to fight fire at the very forefront. The burning forest in the background and depictions of continuous deforestation raises the issue of wildfires across Brazil as well as how other forms of environmental degradation can lead to this worldwide destruction. Additionally, the skeleton of an animal and the discarded megaphone recall the many lives and voices we have lost to the fire. Mundano hopes his larger-than-life mural can aid the effort in protecting both environmental and universal human rights. Label by Isabel Williams

Untitled

Sarah Hoskins, American, born 1965

Untitled, 2017

The liveliness of the trees and humanistic limbs of the branches give mystery to the Appalachian Mountains—the oldest mountain range in the world. The suspense of not knowing what is coming behind the next rolling hill is symbolic in this photo of the suspense of not knowing when the next Mountain top removal explosion will occur. The shrubs to the left with their human-like features seem peaceful, but that is just until they, too, are detonated. The region of Appalachia is in critical danger. The mining industry has taken over the region, bullied it to the point of little hope. The business of mining has an incomparable amount of less value than the land it is destroying. The people of the industry, who continue to hurt the land, are genuinely hurting themselves in the process. They inhabit the land of Appalachia, but they do not care about it; they do not care for the life of the animals that are their neighbors or the trees that provide their life force. Art and Environmental Justice is largely about humanizing the victims of environmental injustice. In this photograph, the land looks alive, and Hoskins humanizes the primary victim of environmental injustice in Appalachia – the land. Label by Annabel Bentley

The Agony of Gaia

Jeff Chapman-Crane, American, born 1953

The Agony of Gaia, 2004

Jeff Chapman-Crane is an Appalachia artist whose work illustrates the region’s culture and people. This sculpture depicts the destruction inflicted by MTM/VF on the earth as personified by Gaia, the earth-mother. Gaia curls up in pain as the mountains covering her body are destroyed, exposing her fragile skin. Her frame is indelibly altered from deforestation, explosives, leveling, and coalmining. Her upper body is the only remaining area with vegetation and life and even that is being forebodingly encroached upon by the mining activities. By anthropomorphizing the often invisible plight of MTM/VF, Chapman-Crane reminds of us of the universal harms shared by humans, animals, and nature alike. This depiction taps into the selfish, anthropocentric human mindset that often overlooks environmental injustice until it is unavoidably and obtrusively threatening humans. Exposing Gaia and revealing the normally neglected, forgotten sacrifice zone calls us to protect humans, which now extends to the earth herself. Label by Tori Erisman

Chapman-Crane’s multimedia sculpture presents an allegory for mountain-top removal, rendering the Ancient Greek mythological figure Gaia, the ultimate personification of the Earth, as a woman in the fetal position in apparent pain. Along her curves are the mountains that have been stripped for the purposes of profit, this metaphor paralleled by her own nakedness. In line with ecofeminist theory, the artist points the blame of Gaia’s pain to a capitalistic, patriarchal mindset (manifested by the construction vehicles). Label by Courtney Hand