Aerial Photography Of Farming And Military Outposts By Mishka Henner

Tabish Khan
By Tabish Khan Last edited 118 months ago
Aerial Photography Of Farming And Military Outposts By Mishka Henner
Mishka Henner, Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean. From series 51 US military outposts, 2010. Image courtesy of the artist and Caroll / Fletcher.
Mishka Henner, Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean. From series 51 US military outposts, 2010. Image courtesy of the artist and Caroll / Fletcher.
Mishka Henner, Levelland Oil and Gas Field #2, 2013-2014. Image courtesy of the artist and Caroll / Fletcher.
Mishka Henner, Levelland Oil and Gas Field #2, 2013-2014. Image courtesy of the artist and Caroll / Fletcher.
Mishka Henner, Cedar Point oil field, 2013-2014. Image courtesy of the artist and Caroll / Fletcher.
Mishka Henner, Cedar Point oil field, 2013-2014. Image courtesy of the artist and Caroll / Fletcher.
Mishka Henner, Centerfire Feedyard, Ulysses Kansas. From series Feedlots 2013. Image courtesy of the artist and Caroll / Fletcher.
Mishka Henner, Centerfire Feedyard, Ulysses Kansas. From series Feedlots 2013. Image courtesy of the artist and Caroll / Fletcher.
Mishka Henner, Naval support activity, Bahrain. From series 51 US military outposts, 2010. Image courtesy of the artist and Caroll / Fletcher.
Mishka Henner, Naval support activity, Bahrain. From series 51 US military outposts, 2010. Image courtesy of the artist and Caroll / Fletcher.
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Mishka Henner has used publicly sourced satellite imagery to construct a highly politicised exhibition. It examines the role of both industry and intelligence agencies, and the impact they have on the world around us.

The exhibition opens with several large-scale photographs that appear quite abstract at first. A closer look reveals them to be vast tracts of farmland, or a mining town where square patches hosting oil pumps surround the conurbation, complete with its own American Football stadium. The artist points out that, on the macro-scale, the images look like the circuit boards that control the machines that have created these artificial landscapes.

A strong environmental message lays behind this work and it provides for arresting imagery, but it's ground that has already been well trodden by the likes of Edward Burtnsky and Daniel Beltra.

Henner's second photographic series comprises aerial shots of 51 US military outposts from across the world using publicly available knowledge and some investigative prowess. There is an irony in turning the very technology that is used to spy on others against the US military, and it's a poignant statement on the potential dangers of the surveillance culture we live in.

In the basement, Henner takes on a mischievous role where he takes part in scambaiting, whereby he leads on an email scammer and gets them to do ridiculous things. It's much more light-hearted than the other works but it made us smile.

This is a varied portfolio from Henner, and though it sometimes lacks originality, it's still a strong exhibition that suggests he is an artist brimming with ideas.

Mishka Henner: Black Diamond is on at Carroll / Fletcher, 56-57 Eastcastle Street, W1W 8EQ until 31 May. Entrance is free.

Last Updated 09 May 2014