Shifting Nature
Photographs by Wayne Barrar, with an essay by Geoff Park, 120pp limpbound, University of Otago Press, Dunedin 2001, RRP$49.95. Art photography of the environment often removes the element of nature, transmuting scenery into symbols. Wayne Barrar has a more interesting approach, presenting here nine portfolios,
each with a short essay which outlines an environmental concern. The subjects vary from isolated Mason Bay on Rakiura (where introduced marram has taken over much of the sand dunes), to the sculpted ruins of Nauru from which phosphate miners have stripped the very earth. His subjects also include the impact of salt mining, hydro schemes on the Waikato, the collision of nature with people’s attempts to control it, ‘restoring ground, and manipulation of nature in the laboratory. His interesting visions are satisfyingly complemented by one of Geoff Park’s multilayered essays on places through time — reflections on the concept of scenery, and Wayne Barrar’s alternative vision, evoked while kayaking on Rotoaira on the volcanic plateau.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/FORBI20020201.2.40.3
Bibliographic details
Forest and Bird, Issue 303, 1 February 2002, Page 44
Word Count
162Shifting Nature Forest and Bird, Issue 303, 1 February 2002, Page 44
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