Sebastião Salgado at Dina Mitrani Gallery

“Genesis is a quest for the world as it was, as it was formed, as it evolved, as it existed for millennia before modern life accelerated and began distancing us from the very essence of our being,” said Lélia Wanick Salgado. “It is testimony that our planet still harbors vast and remote regions where nature reigns in silent and pristine majesty.”

Sebastião Salgado‘s (b. 1944 Aimorés) quest to capture nature in its original state began in 2004. During his travels across the globe, he documented arctic and desert landscapes, tropical rainforests, marine and other wildlife, and communities still living according to ancestral traditions. Through these photographs, Salgado pays homage to a fragile planet he believes we must all protect.

Genesis, Salgado‘s third long-term series, can be viewed as a response to its predecessors Workers (1993) and Migrations (2000), which explored displaced populations and the relentless working conditions endured by men and women around the world. In Genesis, Salgado has chosen to focus on the pristine beauty of the earth and those living in harmony with it.

Salgado‘s photographs, taken during an 8-year period, are an effort to show the importance of preserving and taking care of our planet. They are a call to action, for the world to have a greater awareness of the healing we can generate with small efforts.

In Genesis, Salgado reveals the beauty of our planet and the humans and animals that live in direct connection to its natural state. He traveled to Alaska, Siberia, Africa, South America exploring tribes, animals, forests, deserts and waters, with a loving eye and deep appreciation for our world.