A Special Exhibition for COP31 from Borusan and Borusan Contemporary: “Edward Burtynsky: The Transforming Earth” at Akra Antalya

The special selection “Edward Burtynsky: The Transforming Earth”, prepared in collaboration with Borusan Holding and Borusan Contemporary, will meet art lovers at Akra Antalya between 9-20 November as part of COP31. Bringing together the works of Edward Burtynsky, one of the pioneering names of contemporary photography, which address the effects of human activities on the earth, the exhibition combines the “Erosion” project carried out in Anatolia commissioned by the Borusan Contemporary Art Collection with the artist's multimedia work titled “In the Wake of Progress”.

Approaching sustainability with a holistic approach focused on people and innovation, Borusan Group aims to contribute to international dialogue through the transformative power of art within the scope of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP31. To this end, a special selection of works by Canadian artist Edward Burtynsky, who has been documenting the effects of human activities on the earth for more than forty years, will be presented to visitors through the collaboration of Borusan Holding and Borusan Contemporary. Akra Antalya, which brings together its sustainability efforts under the Ethical Tourism program, will host the exhibition.

Traces of Human Intervention on Earth in the Exhibition

The COP31 selection, prepared based on “The Transforming Earth”, Burtynsky's first major solo exhibition in Türkiye held at Perili Köşk during the 2025-2026 season, focuses on the effects of human activities on nature and the ecological legacy to be left to future generations.

The artist makes visible the traces left on the earth by economic and industrial activities by addressing industrial production sites, mines and agricultural lands through large-scale photographs. The exhibition reveals the dimensions of human intervention and the long-term consequences of this transformation through a visual narrative.

The “Erosion” Project Focuses on the Geography of Türkiye

One of the highlighted sections of the exhibition will be the “Erosion” series, brought to life with the commission of the Borusan Contemporary Art Collection and the contributions of the TEMA Foundation. The project, consisting of aerial shots taken by Burtynsky in Anatolia, addresses the structure of the soil shaped by natural processes and the effects of human activities on geography within the same visual frame.

Photographs documenting different landscapes of Anatolia bring the issues of soil health and environmental transformation to the agenda through art.

“In the Wake of Progress” to Be Exhibited in Türkiye for the First Time

The photography selection will be accompanied by “In the Wake of Progress”, a 22-minute multimedia work that combines the artist's output spanning many years with the music of award-winning composer Phil Strong. To be exhibited for the first time in Türkiye, the work brings together image and music to offer a multi-layered experience regarding the effects of human activities on the planet.

The “Edward Burtynsky: The Transforming Earth” COP31 special selection can be visited at Akra Antalya between 9-20 November. The exhibition will bring the role of art in raising awareness on environmental transformation, sustainability and climate issues to an international platform.