British Artist Turner Captured the 'Planet's Turning Point' in His Paintings

Shields, on the River Tyne, 1823 (TATE)
Shields, on the River Tyne, 1823 (TATE)
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British Artist Turner Captured the 'Planet's Turning Point' in His Paintings

Shields, on the River Tyne, 1823 (TATE)
Shields, on the River Tyne, 1823 (TATE)

A new exhibition is to examine how British artist JMW Turner unknowingly captured the permanent impact people were having on the environment in his paintings.

A World of Care will see the landscape painter's works presented alongside modern examples of environmental issues to show how he captured changes to his world that would alter the climate forever, BBC reported.

Explaining the display, curator Dr Thomas Ardill said in creating his landscapes, Turner had unwittingly been "recording the early stages of climate and ecological breakdown as he travelled across Britain and Europe".

The exhibition at Turner's House, the painter's former retreat in Twickenham, south-west London, opens on 6 July.

Joseph Mallord William Turner was born in London in 1775 and became what many consider to be one of Britain's greatest Romantic artists.

Known as "the painter of light", he created landscapes and seascapes that often reflected changes to the landscape and atmosphere caused by human activity, particularly as a result of the industrial revolution.

"Turner painted the turning point in our planet's modern history," argues TV presenter and conservationist Chris Packham.

"His ‘Rain, Steam and Speed’ sees a smoking locomotive at the vanguard of the industrial revolution, howling out of the fug.

"His sunsets are vivid, his skies torrid - he captures the cusp of change."

According to BBC, the exhibition will see works like Sunset, London from Greenwich, and Shields, on the River Tyne, go on display.

The World of Care exhibition runs from from 6 July to 27 October.



Silver Surfers Mass for Record Bid in Brazil

 Drone picture of surfers trying to ride the same wave to break the Guinness World Record, in Santos, Brazil November 10, 2024. (Reuters)
Drone picture of surfers trying to ride the same wave to break the Guinness World Record, in Santos, Brazil November 10, 2024. (Reuters)
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Silver Surfers Mass for Record Bid in Brazil

 Drone picture of surfers trying to ride the same wave to break the Guinness World Record, in Santos, Brazil November 10, 2024. (Reuters)
Drone picture of surfers trying to ride the same wave to break the Guinness World Record, in Santos, Brazil November 10, 2024. (Reuters)

Three hundred surfers over the age of 50 gathered at the weekend in Santos, Sao Paulo to attempt a world record for the most people riding the same wave.

Participants, many of whom took up surfing later in life, arrived early, eager to hit the water.

"I had a crazy desire to learn (to surf) and when I started, I couldn't stop," said Christiane Melin. "It's an addiction, but an addiction that's really good. It's a really great sensation to ride the waves."

The event, organized by a local surf school specializing in teaching older adults, emphasized community and well-being.

"This is a great example to show the world the importance that, after the pandemic and beyond politics, we can all be together on the same wave," said organizer Cisco Arana.

Though the group fell short of breaking the record - 98 surfers managed to ride a wave together, shy of the 110 achieved in South Africa in 2009 - the event highlighted the transformative power of the sport.

"There were some people who were retired and were a bit idle, there were people with depression, there were people with problems, and then they started to get into surfing," said Marco Horta, a retiree.

"While surfing in nature, people talked, made friends and started to be happy."