Bay of Bonne Anse 2023
This bay, formed by the intersection of the Gironde River estuary and the Atlantic ocean currents, is in continual flux, changing shape and consistency. Designated as part of the EU Natura 2000 system of protected natural areas, it is an essential breeding ground and habitat for birds and fish, of note for hosting 95 protected bird species. it is also a popular recreation destination.
Venice Malamocco Channel with Mose Project Doors 2019
The city of Venice has had a flooding problem throughout its history. With the projected ocean rise, the threat is critical, leading to the idea of the Mose Project. A series of gates across each of the three channels into the lagoon which would close when high water threatened the city was proposed. Instead of the initial estimate of 1.6 billion Euro, the final cost was over 6 billion. Corruption and construction setbacks delayed completion from 2011 till 2020. It seems to protect the city, though in December 2020, the computers failed to predict the height of the tides, and the city flooded again.
MOSE required approximately 220,000 m3 of concrete. About 410 kg of CO2 are emitted per m3 of concrete. Thus 90,200 metric tons of carbon were emitted in the making of the concrete for the project. That’s equal to the climate change impact of 41,000 economy flights from New York to Venice. It is a supreme irony that we are causing significant ocean rise by building these barriers.
Note: The text above was written by the Artist. No modification was made by COCA.
J Henry Fair
United States
J Henry Fair is a photographer and environmental activist, best known for his “chillingly beautiful” (Audubon Magazine) environmental aerial photos,
Fair is the winner of the 2019 “Environmental Photographer of the Year” and the 2012 “Earth Through A Lens” Award. In 2020, Fair was featured as one of the 12 most influential environmental photographers in the book- “Human Nature'' which received critical acclaim in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.
Among the 3 solo books Mr. Fair has published, he is best known for his “Industrial Scars” series, about which, Roberta Smith, chief art critic of The NY Times said “The vivid color photographs of J Henry Fair lead an uneasy double life as potent records of environmental pollution and as ersatz evocations of abstract painting…information and form work together, to devastating effect.”
His work is widely published. Fair has had numerous exhibits in galleries and museums worldwide.