Shifting Baselines
In the late 1990s, biologist Daniel Pauly introduced the concept of "Shifting Baselines." It describes a phenomenon in which successive generations form their perceptions of the environment based on their own experiences, unaware of previous states. This gradually changes the understanding of what is considered "normal" or "natural." This ongoing shift in this "baseline" against which we judge environmental conditions has significant implications for conservation and agriculture.
If each generation accepts a deteriorated or diminished state of the environment as the new norm, it can perpetuate continued degradation without recognition of the losses that have occurred. This can lead to the “Shifting Baseline Syndrome” in which successive generations have lowered expectations of what a healthy ecosystem should really look like. This photography project offers an intriguing glimpse of a future in which the Groningen landscape thrives as a center for regenerative agricultural practices.
These photographs brings a future vision of sustainable crop rotations to life, agroforestry systems, precision agriculture, and soil regeneration techniques. The images depict the landscape almost as unreal movie sets where the emphasis seems to be on all kinds of technical developments that seemingly allow one to gain control over various natural processes. The images Eddo Hartmann made for this project provide a critical look at the current belief in far-reaching innovation. Technological developments are often still aimed at maximizing returns. To actually tackle climate change, a different approach is required that includes not only technological advances but also changes in behavior. We must become aware of the impact of our own actions and be willing to adjust our behaviors.
Eddo Hartmann
Eddo Hartmann, born in The Hague in 1973, studied at the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague. He is a Dutch photographer with a career that has spanned over 25 years. Hartmann is renowned for capturing striking and thought-provoking images of architecture and urban spaces. Initially, he started his career as a commercial and editorial photographer but later shifted towards long-term documentary projects. One of his most notable works is “Setting The Stage | North Korea,” which is a series that documents the intricately designed communist capital of Pyongyang.
In addition to his photographic work, Hartmann is also a lecturer in The Hague, where he teaches technical skills and visual grammar. He is committed to capturing the impact of human activity on the planet and its landscapes. Hartmann’s work has been widely exhibited and published in newspapers and magazines around the world, and can be found in private and public collections. He has received numerous awards, including the 2018 Lensculture Exposure Award. Currently based in Amsterdam, he continues to work as a freelance photographer.