This Wednesday 27th July at 6:30pm, as a part of the Outside-in cinema series in Experimedia here at the Library, we will be showing the documentary Manufactured landscapes, which follows photographer Edward Burtynsky as his work takes him around the vast industrialised landscapes of modern China.

Although having been active as an exhibiting photographer since the early 1980s, it has only been within the last decade that Edward’s work has achieved the recognition it deserves. Hence his inclusion in Cream 3, a sizeable tome consisting of 10 curator’s respective picks of 10 emerging or still under appreciated artists. This book is available from storage here, and can be requested via our catalogue.

Around the same time, however, the very first full-length bound retrospective of Edward’s work was being put together, using the title that would become that of the documentary. Manufactured landscapes not only covered a wide selection of his epic and vibrant photographic works, but also looked at those artists he referred back to in the world of visual arts, which more precisely places him on a contemporary art timeline. This book can be found in the Large Books (AOF) section of the Arts Reading Room.

Two years after this, another book, this time focusing squarely on the project the documentary in question also looks at: China. This book would serve as the best companion-piece to the film, though due to it’s size, it will be delivered to our Heritage Collections Reading Room for viewing once a request has been placed through the catalogue. Well worth it.