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Salgado awakens the Amazon: The breathtaking exhibition in Cologne!
Sebastião Salgado is presenting impressive black and white photographs of the Amazon at the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum in Cologne until March 15th.
Salgado awakens the Amazon: The breathtaking exhibition in Cologne!
In the heart of Cologne, the exhibition “Amazônia” by Sebastião Salgado shines in all its glory and takes visitors into the untouched nature of the Amazon region. The exhibition, which runs until March 15th Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum can be seen shows more than 200 large-format black and white images that were created over a period of seven years.
Salgado, a master of his craft, presents the rainforest with an abundance of jauari palms, kapok trees and the fascinating “flying rivers”. Some visitors might feel like they have been transported into a dream when looking at the impressive photographs. Representing the people who live in these forests, Salgado conveys a respectful and celebratory look at the realities of their lives.
Artistic approach and soundscape
A special highlight of this exhibition is the soundtrack specially composed by Jean-Michel Jarre, which combines natural sounds with electronic sounds and underlines the emotional depth of the photographs. While the images emphasize the beauty of nature, there are also critical voices. Some critics complain that the exhibition leaves little room for the conflicts over land rights and the pressing problems of the climate crisis.
Nevertheless, the exhibition also contains clear voices from indigenous representatives who voice their reality and political struggles. Beto Marubo, a representative of the indigenous peoples, defended Salgado in his commitment and denied certain allegations, such as the sexualization of the people depicted. These are important voices that need to be brought into the discourse as the world climate conference COP30 takes place in Belém in two weeks.
Accompanying program and social relevance
The supporting program for the exhibition promises diversity: workshops, discussions and even a concert by the Gürzenich Orchestra round off the offering. These events not only shed light on art, but also promote understanding of the vital issues the exhibitions address.
Ultimately, Salgado's photographs are viewed not only as an aesthetic representation of the Amazon, but also as a kind of image campaign that shines a spotlight on the beauties of the rainforest. They are an art form that brings awareness to both the photographer's skills and the collaboration with indigenous peoples. The origin of the term “art” itself, derived from *kunstiz* (“knowledge, ability”), shows how deeply the connection to creativity and human skill is anchored in our society, as well as in the definition of Wiktionary.
Visit the exhibition and experience for yourself how the stories of the Amazon are told through art - full of beauty, but also full of challenges. There's something going on!