TERRA EXTRACT at Königsplatz: The Changed Earth in Impressive Aerial Images
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TERRA EXTRACT: The Earth as a Mirror of Human Interventions
Starting from October 1, 2026, the city space at Augsburg's Königsplatz will transform into an impressive open-air gallery. The photo exhibition TERRA EXTRACT by the internationally renowned Augsburg photographer Tom Hegen showcases 60 large-format aerial photographs that reveal how resource extraction, industrial use, and human land use are changing the landscapes of our planet.
Between Abstract Beauty and Ecological Urgency
From a bird's eye view, open-pit mines, extraction sites, power plants, and agriculturally influenced areas initially appear like abstract paintings. Geometric shapes, intense color fields, and precise lines create a fascinating spatial effect. It is only upon closer examination that the dimension of human intervention in nature becomes apparent.
This tension between aesthetic experience and social responsibility characterizes the exhibition. TERRA EXTRACT questions the origins of the raw materials that shape our daily lives: copper for smartphones, iron ore for buildings, and materials for vehicles and technical devices. The photographs connect visual fascination with a critical perspective on the ecological and social consequences of global resource use.
Tom Hegen and the Art of Aerial Photography
Tom Hegen, born in 1991, works at the intersection of contemporary photography, documentary art, and ecological art. His precisely composed aerial images draw attention to landscapes that have been profoundly altered by human intervention. Art historically, his work exists within the tension between modern landscape representation, Anthropocene discourse, and visual environmental research.
Hegen's works have been exhibited in international solo and group exhibitions in Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and China, among others. Awards like the Red Dot Design Award and the German Design Award underline the international recognition of his photographic language.
An Art Experience in the Open Air
The presentation around the Thormann Fountain makes the exhibition readily accessible. Daylight, weather, urban space, and the movement of passersby continuously change the exhibition atmosphere. This creates a unique artistic experience in which the photographed landscapes engage with urban everyday life.
The exhibition is accessible 24/7 and free of charge. Guided tours and additional events will accompany TERRA EXTRACT until June 2027. Collaborations are planned, including with the Environmental Science Center of the University of Augsburg and the adult education center of Augsburg. Thus, the curation connects aesthetic education, environmental education, and societal reflection.
Opening on October 1, 2026
The opening will take place on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 4:30 PM. Educational and cultural officer Tatjana Dörfler will open the exhibition. A joint tour and discussions, photo opportunities, and interviews with the artist are planned after that. The presentation also serves as a contribution to the 30-year Augsburg Sustainability Process.
Conclusion: Landscape as a Mirror of Our Lives
TERRA EXTRACT welcomes art enthusiasts with large-format photography, an open curatorial perspective, and an urgent connection between art and cultural education. The exhibition does not provide pre-packaged answers but sharpens the view of the interconnections between consumption, resource extraction, and landscape change. Those who experience photography as an aesthetic experience, social insight, and inspiring artwork should visit TERRA EXTRACT live at Augsburg's Königsplatz.
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