Inspired by the themes of ecocentrism, ecological stewardship, and enduring hope in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, this project brings visitors face-to-face with the industrial landscapes of the Athabasca oil sands. The true cost of our insatiable thirst for oil becomes visible in these shattered landscapes, the scale of it leaving the viewer feeling small. On the edge of extraction, this project invites us to bear witness to these industrial, exploitative systems, and our role within them. In this way, it prompts reflection on the challenges and responsibilities of power, and what we can do to work towards repairing these landscapes. It reminds us that hope is not passive optimism, but rather the deliberate choice to act, even when success seems impossible. Tucked into the shadow of Mordor, this project suggests that small acts of care and stewardship can rebuild our hope and reshape our future.
Alastair White (Thu,) studied this question.