미국의 광부들 사진전 'Beneath the Surface' 순회: 내셔널 갤러리(DC)-밀워키미술관-에이먼카터미술관(포트워스, TX)
The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., will present 'Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography' from May 23 to August 23, 2026, the first exhibition to focus exclusively on the relationship between resource extraction and American photography. Featuring 150 photographs by over 100 artists—including Richard Avedon, Walker Evans, Lewis Hine, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Dorothea Lange, and Gordon Parks—the show spans nearly 200 years, from early daguerreotypes of the California Gold Rush to contemporary large-scale works. After its Washington run, the exhibition will travel to the Milwaukee Art Museum (October 23, 2026–January 18, 2027) and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas (February 14–May 9, 2027).
This exhibition matters because it uniquely examines how photography has documented and shaped public understanding of mining, drilling, and fossil fuel extraction—industries that have profoundly influenced American society, economy, and environment. By bringing together historical and contemporary works, including those by socially engaged artists, the show highlights both the rewards and costs of resource extraction, while also noting photography's own material dependence on precious metals. It offers a critical lens through which to consider the ongoing environmental and social impacts of extractive industries, making it timely amid current debates about energy and sustainability.