Internationally renowned Canadian artist Edward Burtynsky announces the world premiere of his first major immersive artwork, In the Wake of Progress. 40 years in the making, this multimedia project bears witness to the impact of human industry on the planet. This spectacular experience, available to audiences this summer as unique indoor and outdoor presentations, challenges us to have an important conversation about our legacy and the future implications of sustainable life on Earth. 

Co-produced by Canadian music legend Bob Ezrin (known for his work with Pink Floyd, Andrea Bocelli, Peter Gabriel, Taylor Swift and many others), In the Wake of Progress is a 22-minute event combining video and photographs from throughout Burtynsky’s career, fully choreographed to an original score composed by Phil Strong, with vocals by award-winning Cree Métis artist iskwē and performances by musicians of The Glenn Gould School at The Royal Conservatory of Music. 

Commissioned and co-produced by Luminato Festival Toronto, and premiering as the marquee event of the Festival’s opening weekend at Yonge-Dundas Square on June 11 and 12, 2022, In the Wake of Progress will be a stunning takeover of the Square’s surrounding digital screens, enveloping audiences in a 280° array of his famous imagery, including new and never-before-seen work.

On the heels of the free, outdoor world premiere, In the Wake of Progress will launch as an indoor immersive experience in Toronto following the festival. 

“My hope is that this project, presented in venues and public squares globally — reaching nearly as far as I have travelled to create it — will provide a poignant statement illustrating the extent of human taking for the sake of modern progress. Places that were once, just beyond recent memory, abundant and pristine nature, are now transformed into landscapes of glass and concrete, sound and light. Where once there were forests, dense with biodiversity, now there are concrete jungles dense with the trappings of human life.” – Edward Burtynsky

Preparations are underway for an international tour of this ground-breaking work.

REGISTER FOR MORE INFO:
Guests are encouraged to register for the waitlist to be the first to receive more information and get early access to tickets. You can also follow along with #InTheWakeOfProgress on Facebook and Instagram for more.  for more. 

ABOUT EDWARD BURTYNSKY

Edward Burtynsky is regarded as one of the world's most accomplished contemporary photographers. His remarkable photographic depictions of global industrial landscapes represent over 40 years of his dedication to bearing witness to the impact of humans on the planet. Burtynsky's photographs are included in the collections of over 60 major museums around the world. Major (touring) exhibitions include: Anthropocene (2018), Water (2013) organised by the New Orleans Museum of Art & Contemporary Art Center, Louisiana; Oil (2009) at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.; China (2005 five-year tour); and Manufactured Landscapes (2003), National Gallery of Canada. Film collaborations include Jennifer Baichwal's Manufactured Landscapes (2006); Watermark (2013); and the third film in the trilogy, ANTHROPOCENE: The Human Epoch which opened in theatres across Canada in October 2018 and in theatres across the US in September 2019. Burtynsky’s distinctions include the inaugural TED Prize in 2005, which he shared with Bono and Robert Fischell; the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts; the Outreach award at the Rencontres d’Arles; the Roloff Beny Book award; and the 2018 Photo London Master of Photography Award. In 2019 he was the recipient of the Arts & Letters Award at the Canadian Association of New York’s annual Maple Leaf Ball and the 2019 Lucie Award for Achievement in Documentary Photography. Most recently he was awarded a Royal Photographic Society Honorary Fellowship (2020) and was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Photography Award (2022) by the World Photography Organization. He currently holds eight honorary doctorate degrees.

ABOUT LUMINATO FESTIVAL TORONTO

Luminato Festival Toronto is a convenor and catalyst for big, bold contemporary works of art. Each June, Luminato kicks off the summer with a festival to welcome the world to Toronto, presenting, producing, and commissioning exceptional Canadian and international artists. Throughout the year Luminato works with artists from the diverse cultures and communities of the city region, supporting creative development, and bringing their art to the world stage. We connect local voices with global conversations and ground our work in equity, inclusion, accessibility, and sustainability. Most importantly, we believe in the power of art to start conversations and inspire audiences.    

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