Documenting Ecological Devastation in the Amazon: Richard Mosse's Perspective
In a bold and innovative move, contemporary artist and photographer Richard Mosse has unveiled his latest project, Broken Spectre, a 74-minute film that offers a unique perspective on the Amazon rainforest. This immersive work combines various technologies, including multispectral cameras, botanical studies, aerial cameras, and heat-sensitive analogue film, to reveal hidden aspects of the environment.
Broken Spectre serves as a poignant commentary on the misconception that the rainforest is something to be tamed and turned into pasture, referencing Western film iconography to problematize this notion. The film offers a stark portrayal of the Amazon's current state, a state that has been under threat since Jair Bolsonaro became president of Brazil in 2019.
According to reports by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research, the Amazon rainforest has lost more than 34,000 square kilometers (8.4 million acres) since Bolsonaro took office. This deforestation has been accompanied by a significant increase in illegal invasions of Indigenous lands by gold miners, with reports indicating an 180% surge.
Weakened Indigenous land rights and the firing of environmental experts, including the director of the Brazilian agency that monitors deforestation, have been prevalent during Bolsonaro's presidency. Bolsonaro has also slashed spending for environmental agencies, contributing to the crisis.
Broken Spectre is not just a visual exploration; it is a call to action. The film uses multi-spectral cameras to capture discreet bandwidths of reflected light, revealing environmental changes such as stress to plants. This technique, coupled with Mosse's surreal and visually striking imagery, paints a vivid picture of the Amazon's struggle.
The film also features a powerful nine-minute speech by Adneia, a young woman from the Yanomami community in Roraima State, Northern Brazil, who speaks about the impact of photographers and viewers on her community.
Broken Spectre will be on view at 180 The Strand in London from October 12. The film, published by Loose Joints in collaboration with 180 Studios and Converge 45, has also been published as a book.
The fate of the Amazon remains uncertain as Bolsonaro faces former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the run-off election on October 31. As viewers, we are asked to reconsider our complicity in the systems destroying the planet for profit, and to stand with the Amazon as it faces these challenges.
Broken Spectre is both an urgent body of work and deeply distressing due to its subject matter. Yet, it serves as a powerful reminder of the beauty and importance of the Amazon rainforest and the urgent need for its protection.
