March 4th to 28th | Opening Reception on Saturday March 6th from 7pm to 10pm
The Alberta Tar Sands are a place of superlatives, a place of awesome beauty and destruction where exaggeration of scale and proportion seems almost impossible. They are simply awe-inspiring. With every twist and turn of the airplane, another incredible scene presents itself, followed by another. It’s a linear kaleidoscope of contrasts, colours, and patterns garnished by the movement of machinery below, smoke and effluent; the scene resetting, again and again as the paint of photography – light – makes its daily changes.

Louis Helbig - Beautiful Destruction
The tar sands are also topical. Canada is America’s single biggest supplier of oil, almost all derived from the Tar Sands. Despite their importance in our culture, in our economy and, increasingly, in how the outside world views Canada, few know much about them and fewer still have seen them.
“Beautiful Destruction – Alberta Tar Sands Aerial Photographs” is described by one critic as “teetering between documentary and abstract.” The tension between the imagery’s beauty and what they represent – the man-made alteration and destruction of a landscape – stimulates thought and imagination, engaging viewers, prompting questions, debate and discussion.
The photos were taken from the photographer’s 1946 antique aircraft as a part of a cross country journey with his partner Kristin Reimer in 2008.
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About galleryDK
Located at 1332 Queen Street West, galleryDK is an artist-run space
that specializes in contemporary urban photography. The gallery seeks
to present photographic and photo-based work examining and exploring
all facets of the urban experience – not only in Toronto, but around
the world.
The gallery is open Thursdays through Sunday, from 12pm-5pm, otherwise
by appointment.
http://www.galleryDK.com
info@gallerydk.com
416-913-7116
LOUIS HELBIG: BEAUTIFUL DESTRUCTION – ALBERTA TAR SANDS AERIAL PHOTOS
March 4th to 28th | Opening Reception on Saturday March 6th from 7pm to 10pm
The Alberta Tar Sands are a place of superlatives, a place of awesome beauty and destruction where exaggeration of scale and proportion seems almost impossible. They are simply awe-inspiring. With every twist and turn of the airplane, another incredible scene presents itself, followed by another. It’s a linear kaleidoscope of contrasts, colours, and patterns garnished by the movement of machinery below, smoke and effluent; the scene resetting, again and again as the paint of photography – light – makes its daily changes.
Louis Helbig - Beautiful Destruction
The tar sands are also topical. Canada is America’s single biggest supplier of oil, almost all derived from the Tar Sands. Despite their importance in our culture, in our economy and, increasingly, in how the outside world views Canada, few know much about them and fewer still have seen them.
“Beautiful Destruction – Alberta Tar Sands Aerial Photographs” is described by one critic as “teetering between documentary and abstract.” The tension between the imagery’s beauty and what they represent – the man-made alteration and destruction of a landscape – stimulates thought and imagination, engaging viewers, prompting questions, debate and discussion.
The photos were taken from the photographer’s 1946 antique aircraft as a part of a cross country journey with his partner Kristin Reimer in 2008.
————————————————–
About galleryDK
Located at 1332 Queen Street West, galleryDK is an artist-run space
that specializes in contemporary urban photography. The gallery seeks
to present photographic and photo-based work examining and exploring
all facets of the urban experience – not only in Toronto, but around
the world.
The gallery is open Thursdays through Sunday, from 12pm-5pm, otherwise
by appointment.
http://www.galleryDK.com
info@gallerydk.com
416-913-7116