Living in Peru : your everyday companion

By Diana P. Olano

Those who have flown in helicopters or air ballons have the distinct pleasure of knowing what our world, seen from above, looks like. Flying in an airplane isn't comparable because you're only seeing our lands, seas and cities, from a high altitude, for a few seconds. And forget about it if you have an evening flight. The view you get from flying above earth isn't one we're used to seeing because unlike birds or other flying creatures, we don't have the capacity to soar our skies. The experience is unnatural to us. However, that doesn't mean we shouldn't be privy to such a special way of viewing the world. Thanks to a new exhibtion, we finally are.

A more than decade-old project has resulted in one of the most popular and acclaimed photography exhibitions Lima has ever seen. Yann Arthus-Bertrand's "La Tierra vista desde el cielo" (The Earth From Above) exhibition at Parque Kennedy in Miraflores features more than 120 aerial shots, taken in over 100 countries, that show the current state of our oceans, deserts, rainforests and much more.

Here's the kicker, though: each photograph is accompanied by a small piece of text that has been written by experts in sustainable development. They tell us things we already know. We know our glaciers are melting at alarming rates. We know shanytowns, such as the dangerous "favelas" in Brazil, are growing in size with every passing day. We know our capitalistic and materialistic societies are producing more waste than ever before. Thanks to this exhibition, however, we can actually see it with our eyes through incredibly striking shots that Arthus-Bertrand and his team has been collecting for the past few years. The photographs and text make for a powerful combination in which we not only learn about the affects humans are having on the environment but actually see the damage we've caused.

The beginnings of this lengthy project began in 1994 when Arthus-Bertrand came up with the need to make a general survey of the state of the earth. In mark of us almost reaching the 21st century, the French photographer wanted to take on an "an ambitious, long-term project." Originally specializing in animal photography, nature has always been a priority for Arthus-Bertrand. When the project initially began, however, he was more interested in "the preservation of exceptional sites" more so than sustainable development. However, as the project went on, he began to realize that our relationship with the earth is something of great importance. "Working on location soon made me realize that man cannot be dissociated from the landscape." He eventually became convinced that "supporting the theories on sustainability was the way towards a reasoned form of development."

The project wasn't quickly supported and even Arthus-Bertrand began to have doubts. 200 letters were sent to potential partners and most of those were never answered. After a lot of hard work, "The Earth From Above" Team was formed and support started to come in from all over. With the help of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the team was able to fly and take photographs over a few countries. CLUB MED even asked them to create a book that featured their holiday resorts from the air. The same was done in places such as Kuwait and Morocco. One of the teams most important sponsors came from FUJIFILM who provided free film and processing.

The photographs are on display in Paseo de los Pintores, that little street in Parque Kennedy next to Iglesia Virgen Milagrosa. Each photograph is placed in large, lit up panels which are lined down in rows. The presentation is simple, which allows for focus to be solely on the beautiful, eye-opening aerial shots. All I mostly heard from fellow spectators were "ooo's" and "ahhhs" the night I visited the exhibition. The photographs are breathtaking, but I also got the feeling that there was more than wonderment going on in their minds.

We talk about globalization and how earth and its inhabitants are interconnected now more than ever thanks to the internet, email, web cameras and so on. Yes, our world is becoming smaller in that sense. We can communicate to our relatives half way around the world in a matter of seconds or eat a fruit imported from a country we've never even heard of. However, though we might not see it as vividly I have in this exhibition, our world is a vast one. It stretches for miles and miles and many of us are never going to be able to see it all. Yet, that doesn't mean that our tiny, human selves aren't affecting it in both positive and negative ways. Earth has its own way of re-cleansing itself, but it can only do so much.

While some may find Arthus-Bertrand's project a bit cynical and depressing, the public should also try to view it with an optimistic eye. Despite the affects of global warming, pollution and the like, our world remains a beautiful one. What "The Earth From Above" shows us is that we need to learn to protect and preserve that beauty.




La Tierra Vista desde el Cielo (The Earth From Above)
When: April 16 - June 15
Where: Paseo de los Pintores (Iglesia Virgen Milagrosa) - Parque Kennedy, Miraflores
Free Admission