AMAZON exhibition launched

Last Tuesday, London’s Somerset House officially launched a brand new photography exhibition entitled AMAZON in aid of Sky Rainforest Rescue. The event, which inaugurated a display of images by top photographers Sebastião Salgado and Per-Anders Pettersson, emphasized the urgent need to tackle deforestation and the power of photography to inspire change.

Tuesday night’s packed out launch party saw over 200 people gather to witness the beauty of the rainforest and its greatest threats, but also to learn about WWF and Sky’s solutions through our work in Acre, Brazil.

Salgado’s images, taken during his time living with the Zo’e and Waura indigenous groups, provided a striking depiction of the Amazon’s pristine forests and the people who continue to live in harmony with nature. But, in an interview with the Independent on Sunday, Salgado stressed:

“I don’t want people to see my photos just as beautiful, interesting records of a place. I want to provoke people into the kind of discussion that is essential to its preservation.”

Pettersson’s images demonstrated exactly why preservation is needed, through aerial shots depicting vast tracts of deforestation. But his photos also showed what we can all do to make a difference, by documenting the stories of the people we are working with in Acre to help preserve the forest. Pettersson said:

“I hope my photos will further highlight this issue and lead many people to get involved in this cause.”

Among the most celebrated guests at Tuesday’s event was actress Gemma Arterton, who featured in Pettersson’s images from Acre. While visitors crowded to hear about her experience of the Amazon, she also managed to grab the attention of the press with her ‘Princess Leia’-style dress.

AMAZON is a free exhibition and is open until 18 December at Somerset House in London.