Imago Garage

Rua do Vale de Santo António 50A, 1170-381 Lisboa

27 . 09 . 2024 → 26 . 10 . 2024

wednesday - saturday → 02:30 pm – 06:30 pm

Artist

Remco de Vries

“The Heavy Loads of Our World” is a thought- provoking photographic project that exposes the often-overlooked complexities of the shipping industry and its profound impact on the global economy. Through a meticulous collection of 36 images, the project creates a powerful typology that captures the imposing presence of the largest container ships over the course of a month in the Port of Rotterdam. Accompanied by a compelling video showing their immense scale, the project serves as an eye-opening exploration of this hidden industry.

At its core, the project raises pertinent ethical questions that go to the heart of the shipping industry’s operations. With just nine private companies exercising significant control over the global economy, the project invites consideration of the dynamics and consequences of such concentrated power.

The project emerges as a testament to the intricate machinery that enables our everyday comforts in a society driven by automation and virtual immediacy. The juxtaposition of technology and human effort urges viewers to reconsider their relationship with consumerism, and to acknowledge the human and environmental toll of their choices.

“The Heavy Loads of Our World” invites viewers to introspect and question their consumption patterns, encouraging a critical examination of the human and environmental sacrifices that underpin global trade. Through its intimate exploration of the multifaceted dimensions of the shipping industry, the project aims to spark a profound dialogue about the interplay between our modern lifestyles and the hidden corners of the global economy.