Thomas Struth's photograph 'Aquarium' depicts tired schoolchildren observing colorful fish, representing a look back at a now-extinct ecosystem. The ongoing exhibition 'Second Nature' contextualizes this work within the Anthropocene, defined by human impact on nature. Léonard Pongo's video installation, 'Primordial Earth,' complements Struth's work by portraying the distress of the natural world under pollution. Together, they highlight a stark contrast between industrial advancements and the suffering ecosystems, urging viewers to confront the reality of environmental degradation.
"Aquarium is related to Struth's earlier series... showing a viewing public similarly postured, their heads mostly averted away from a Diego Velázquez painting."
"The aquarium becomes a denatured work of art... imagined lesson plan for the children: 'This is what the oceans looked like.'"
"Pongo describes his mixed-media installation Primordial Earth as a 'loose tale of creation/apocalypse and what's in between.'"
"The artist gives waterways and landscapes a voice... visibly suffering from manmade contaminants. Pollution is turning everything green and blue into a sludgy black."
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