As we pause and take a deep breath at the close of 2018, there is much to be thankful for, there is much to be humbled by, and much to be concerned about. I would like to take a moment to applaud the artist, Alex MacLean, who utilizes his aerial photography to cautiously remind of us of what we have and how close we are to losing it all. For the past 40 years, Alex has been flying over our precious landscapes, paying close attention to the blessings and curses of our modern society through his photography. Thank you Alex, for the persistence of your vision and for keeping us awake to climate change. Your art shows us that it is real.
In the artist’s own words:
Sea level rise is a positive indicator of global warming and climate change that is undeniable. I have been documenting with aerial images the impacts and vulnerabilities it brings to our coastline. Sea level rise is universal, permanent and irreversible, its rate of rising is accelerating. Understanding the consequences of sea level rise while showing the beauty of our natural world is the intent of my photographs. To act now without delay on cutting carbon emissions to zero is the goal of my current body of work.
Alex MacLean is in early stages of a stunning new book project with his publisher, Éditions La Découverte, on this important topic of Sea Level Rise.
