British photographer Zed Nelson will present his latest work, "The Anthropocene Illusion," at PhotoMonth London 2025, offering a striking examination of how humans have created artificial experiences of nature while simultaneously destroying the natural world. The six-year project reveals both humanity's denial of environmental destruction and our deep-seated craving for connection to the natural world we've turned away from.
The exhibition explores the concept of the Anthropocene, the current geological epoch defined by humanity's profound impact on Earth's ecosystems. Beginning with the Industrial Revolution approximately 200 years ago, human activity has fundamentally reshaped the planet's atmosphere, geology, and biodiversity. Future geologists will discover layers marked by plastics, concrete, fossil-fuel residues, and radioactive isotopes – permanent traces of human dominance over natural systems.
While technological advancement has accelerated, the natural world has suffered catastrophic losses, with global wildlife populations declining by half over the past 40 years. As human populations have shifted from rural to urban environments, we have physically distanced ourselves from nature while maintaining an emotional longing for natural experiences. This disconnect has sparked the creation of artificial nature experiences including zoos, theme parks, indoor ski slopes, and synthetic beaches.
Nelson's work demonstrates how humans have transformed nature into safe, entertaining spectacles that are predictable and comfortable, deliberately stripped of danger, surprise, and natural change. Even supposedly natural spaces like national parks and ski resorts have become curated environments where wilderness is packaged for mass consumption. The result is a paradoxical relationship where we construct increasingly elaborate simulations of nature while continuing to destroy authentic natural environments.
The photographer documents various examples of this phenomenon, from Disney's Animal Kingdom to Germany's Tropical Islands dome and Dubai's indoor ski slopes. These controlled versions of nature allow people to immerse themselves in artificial environments that mask the environmental damage inflicted on genuine ecosystems. Artificial snow, caged lions, and aquarium ice worlds represent humanity's attempt to replace authentic wilderness with carefully crafted replicas.
This environmental estrangement has deep philosophical and cultural roots in Western traditions. Influenced by Aristotelian thought and Judeo-Christian concepts of human dominion over nature, Western civilization has long positioned humanity above the natural world. The Industrial Revolution and colonial expansion reinforced beliefs that nature existed primarily to be conquered, controlled, or consumed for human benefit.
Contemporary thinkers including Lynn White and Bill McKibben have warned that this worldview forms the foundation of today's environmental crisis. Modern humanity exists as both creator and destroyer, wielding unprecedented power over the planet while remaining unprepared for the moral and ecological consequences of that dominance. Projects like Saudi Arabia's planned city Neom, which promises "a place on Earth like nothing on Earth," exemplify this disconnect from natural reality through visions of limitless progress.
Nelson's exhibition suggests that human survival depends on fundamentally restoring our relationship with the natural world through rewilding initiatives, sustainable living practices, and ethical environmental stewardship. While the necessary actions are well-understood, what remains lacking is the collective will to implement meaningful change. The Anthropocene represents not only a geological age but also a moral reckoning that will determine what kind of species humanity chooses to become.
"The Anthropocene Illusion" will be displayed at Mile End Arts Pavilion from October 15-26, 2025, as part of PhotoMonth London. Additional information is available at PhotoMonth.co.uk and through the organization's Instagram account.
