‘Amazon’ an Exhibition to Launch at Somerset House in Aid of Sky Rainforest Rescue

LONDON, September 14, 2011 -

Somerset House is proud to present ‘AMAZON ‘, an exhibition in aid of Sky Rainforest Rescue’s campaign to help save one billion trees in the Amazon rainforest. The exhibition features two award-winning photographers, Sebastião Salgado and Per-Anders Petterrson - to highlight the plight of the Amazonian rainforest and the people living within it.

The exhibition will bring together two remarkable, distinct bodies of photography featuring previously unseen images. It will showcase the efforts of Sky Rainforest Rescue, a three year partnership between Sky and WWF that began in 2009 and aims to help save one billion trees in the state of Acre, North-West Brazil.

Legendary Brazilian photographer, Sebastião Salgado will present exclusively work from his ongoing photographic essay ‘Genesis’ that began in 2004 and is due to reach completion in 2012. The images portray landscapes in their most pristine state, and the communities still living in them, according to ancient traditions in balance with nature. Through these epic and evocative images, visitors to the exhibition are taken on a journey through environments, which remain intact despite the enormous human destruction taking place daily in the region. Salgado commented: “I relished the opportunity to present some of my unseen images in the exhibition and highlight the beauty that must be preserved.”

Renowned documentary photographer Per-Anders Pettersson presents photographs from a recent visit to Acre with actress Gemma Arterton, to support Sky Rainforest Rescue. These images illustrate the stark reality and level of devastation caused by deforestation - and gives an insight into the progress being made through Sky Rainforest Rescue, who closely with the Acre State Government to protect this precious part of the world. Pettersson commented “the images that we captured were beautiful and heart breaking in equal measure.”

The exhibition will be accompanied by a programme of educational talks and events and will be the first at Somerset House’s new East Wing Galleries.

INFORMATION

Dates: 2 November 2011 - 4 December 2011
Opening hours: daily from 10.00 to 18.00
Location: East Wing Galleries, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2

Visit rainforestrescue.sky.com to find out more about how you can help. There are several ways to donate including the Adopt a jaguar appeal

Victoria Etaghene / +44(0)207 705 3000,
Victoria.Etaghene at bskyb.com