Montreal photographer Benoit Aquin's photography explores the perils of our contemporary world, especially focusing on human actions and issues with the environment.
His subjects have included Indonesian and Sri Lankans affected by the 2004 Tsunami, Inuit hunters in the Arctic as they struggle with the warming of their frozen surroundings, and surviving Central American victims of noxious effects from pesticides used in the 1970s-80s.
The following images are from his series, Chinese Dust Bowl.
Currently in China, massive acreage of formerly useful land is becoming barren desert at a devastating rate. Deserts now cover almost 20% of China, mostly caused by the human exploitation of arable land. This current dust bowl is comparable to the North American dust bowl of the 1930s.
The dust, picked up by the wind, has given these photographs a palette that draws the viewer into a desperate situation in a subdued and soothing way. The landscapes seem magical and otherworldly. Though one is confronted with an inherent heartbreak, these are quiet images, from which haunting beauty inspires a sense of awe.
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