OVER 300,000 VISITORS WORLDWIDE!
EDWARD
BURTYNSKY
WATER,
THE NEW GOLD
June 7 – September 29, 2024
Cc Scharpoord, Knokke-Heist
THE BEAUTY & SCARCITY OF WATER
The photo exhibition WATER explores the complex relationship between humanity and water: a fundamental part of our bodies, an essential resource for our lives—and for the life of our planet. Indispensable and vital, water is the most precious liquid; the new gold.
Edward Burtynsky’s abstract photographs, sometimes elegant, sometimes haunting, hover between the realms of painting and photography, creating a captivating portrait of water that raises open questions about humanity’s connection with nature.
"Whenever water is taken out of its natural cycle, there is always a winner and a loser. The one it flows to is the winner, and the one who lacks that water is the loser."
Edward Burtynsky
PHOTO EXHIBITION
WATER THROUGH BURTYNSKY’S LENS
"I wanted to understand water, as well as our use and misuse of it. The images show evidence of global thirst and threatened resources. The landscapes I document are clearly not vistas of an inexhaustible, sustainable world."
Edward Burtynsky
Internationally acclaimed Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky traveled across five continents. From the Gulf of Mexico to the banks of the Ganges, he captured the life cycle of water. He followed the paths of rivers, studied the seas, and even explored beneath the surface—a signature approach of his.
The exhibition is organized into six chapters: In Distress, Control, Agriculture, Hydro-culture, Source, Shore, and Waterfront. This structure offers visitors a diverse and comprehensive view of water.
Given the vastness of the subject, Burtynsky employed advanced technologies.
Breathtaking aerial shots—captured via helicopters and drones—offer stunning perspectives on water. This photo exhibition inspires awe and wonder, guiding visitors from fascination to awareness: the environment is a global concern, as urgent as our most basic needs.
EDWARD BURTYNSKY
HIS POWERFUL PERSPECTIVE ON WATER
Edward Burtynsky (1955, Ontario, Canada) is renowned for his strikingly innovative photography. Over a celebrated career spanning more than 40 years, he has documented humanity’s widespread impact on the planet. His work challenges viewers to engage in meaningful conversations about these consequences and their implications for the future.
Burtynsky’s photographs are held in the collections of over 80 major museums worldwide, including the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Guggenheim Museum in New York, Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, Tate Modern in London, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.
His images are featured annually in numerous publications, including Canadian Art, Art in America, The Smithsonian Magazine, Harper’s Magazine, Flash Art, Blind Spot, Art Forum, Saturday Night, National Geographic, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Walrus, FT Weekend, and Vogue.
WATER BY BURTYNSKY
Welcome to the photo exhibition
Opening hours:
June 7 – September 29, 2024
Open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Last ticket sale at 5:00 PM
Location:
CC Scharpoord
Maxim Willemspad 18
8300 Knokke-Heist (on the coast)
Ticket prices:
Standard ticket: €15
Group rate (group of 10 or more): €12 per person
Ticket for under 25: €12
Schools (group of 10 or more): €5 per person
Plus a one-time €0.89 reservation fee per online ticket ordered
Accessibility:
The Knokke-Heist train station is 850 meters away.
The nearest coastal tram stop is Knokke, just a 10-minute walk.
Coming by bike? Several cycling routes pass by Scharpoord.
Traveling by car? Parking is available at Scharpoord (free, with a blue parking disc, max. 4 hours).
Guided tour: even more inspiration
Curious to learn more about the photos and Burtynsky? A guide will take you on a 90-minute tour, sharing fascinating additional insights. This guided tour costs €95 and is available for 1 person up to a group of 20 adults.
Art shop: photo books, prints & design
Looking for a beautiful souvenir to enjoy afterwards? In the Art Shop you’ll find the photo book Water, published exclusively for this exhibition. Or choose from one of the many other stunning photo books, prints, or merchandising items — perfect as a gift (also for yourself). The Art Shop is designed by partners Flos, Vitra, and Extremis.
Café Cultuur: enjoy a relaxed moment together
Another great option: linger a little longer with a drink and something tasty, in the café or out on the sunny terrace. Open daily from 10 a.m. (also accessible without a ticket).
Especially for this exhibition, De Donkere Kamer has published a dedicated book in collaboration with publisher Hopper & Fuchs.
The abstract photographs by Edward Burtynsky — sometimes elegant, sometimes arresting — hover between the worlds of painting and photography, forming a compelling portrait of water that poses an open question about humanity’s relationship with nature. These works are brought together in this book. Available now through our shop.
BOOK WATER
De Donkere Kamer brings together photographic talent and enthusiasts, specializing in organizing unique photo exhibitions. Creative manager Kaat Celis and business expert Dimitri Heirbaut share a passion for contemporary photography:
DE DONKERE KAMER
A connecting platform for photography
Visual language helps tell important stories, to move people and bring them together. With photographs, you can truly understand and feel each other, if you look closely. No matter your age or background, photography is a universal language, accessible to everyone."
Kaat Celis
ABOUT KAAT
For over 20 years, Kaat Celis has been bringing people closer to photography. After studying photography, she worked in the media, including as photo editor at Het Laatste Nieuws and Goedele Magazine, and as head of photography at De Morgen.
Kaat is the founder of the AntwerpPhoto Festival and has collaborated with World Press Photo, Bozar, Red Star Line Museum, MAS, Toneelhuis, C-Mine, and Legacy (Helmut Newton). She is also active as a curator and a highly sought-after juror for (inter)national competitions and fairs.
ABOUT DIMITRI
Dimitri is a partner at De Donkere Kamer, responsible for financial and business management. Together with Kaat, he forms a strong duo that makes a variety of photo exhibitions accessible to a wide audience.
For the Water exhibition by Edward Burtynsky, De Donkere Kamer collaborates with partners Polestar, Vitra, Extremis, Flos, Stockmans Art Books, De Standaard, and the municipality of Knokke-Heist.
Do you have a question, want to get in touch, or collaborate?
Send us an email at info@donkerekamer.com.
