The Hand of Man

“Hand of Man” Is an exhibit of images and video looking at the engines of the Anthropocene, the machines that extract the raw materials of our consumer society. Being the epitome of function over form, these behemoths have a unique alluring beauty

There are many aspect to this series: the beautiful high-resolution images, along with videos of the machines working, and augmented content in the form of maps, data, and supplemental imagery.

Museums remain trusted institutions which offer entertainment, information, and comfort, while being places of refuge.
But it is important to remain current and contemporary.

This exhibit addresses the disconnect between man’s ingenuity and lack of foresight, and thus prompts a dialog about our inability to address long term consequences. An we can never ignore our fascination with the machines that can shape our world.

There are numerous layers of art and information which allow the visitor to appreciate just the art, or dig deeper into the science behind it.

Visitors leave with a deeper understanding of the Climate Crisis and Anthropocene, but also with a fresh perspective on these issues which affect all of us.

““The vivid color photographs of J Henry Fair lead an uneasy double life as potent records of environmental pollution and as ersatz evocations of abstract painting... information and form work together, to devastating effect.””
— Roberta Smith, The New York Times

  • • 20-30 compelling abstract environmental photographs, 20x30” (50x76 cm) or 30x40” (76x100)
    • Online Encyclopedia for each image, explaining its meaning with text, images, and maps
    • Exhibit uses about 2,000 square feet of space.
    • Caption cards in multiple languages are delivered as pdf, ready for printing.
    • Prints can be shipped in the USA from New York or from Berlin within Europe
    • They can also be custom produced by the exhibitor and thus designed to fit the venue.
    • The Online encyclopedia is accessible via QR code or live link.

  • J Henry Fair is a photographer and filmmaker, best known for his “chillingly beautiful” (Audubon Magazine) environmental aerial photos, and his current exhibit about Harriet Tubman and the Combahee Raid.

    Fair is the winner of the 2019 “Environmental Photographer of the Year” and the 2012 “Earth Through A Lens” Award. In 2020, Fair was featured as one of the 12 most influential environmental photographers in the book- “Human Nature’’ which received critical acclaim in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.

    Among the 3 solo books Mr. Fair has published, he is best known for his “Industrial Scars” series, about which, Roberta Smith, chief art critic of The NY Times said “The vivid color photographs of J Henry Fair lead an uneasy double life as potent records of environmental pollution and as ersatz evocations of abstract painting…information and form work together, to devastating effect.”

    His work is widely published: from The New York Times, National Geographic, Vanity Fair, TIME, and New York, to Die Zeit, The Guardian, and Le Figaro, He has been featured on Television networks Arte, TTT, CBC News, and The Today Show,

    Fair has had numerous exhibits in galleries and museums worldwide.

    J Henry Fair was born in Charleston, SC, USA and holds a degree in journalism from Fordham University.

    He is currently based in New York City and Berlin.

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