Yesterday evening Sebastião Salgado’s exhibition Amazônia opened in Manchester at the Science and Industry Museum.

Amazônia is a photography exhibition that celebrates the indigenous peoples and varied landscapes of the Brazilian rainforest.

Salgado worked with twelve indigenous communities over seven years, resulting in a collection of black-and-white photography that shows a vision of the Amazon as the forest is approaching a crucial tipping point in the fight against climate change.

At last night’s exhibition opening, Salgado gave a speech emphasising the urgency needed to tackle the climate crisis and prevent the Amazon’s destruction, and the importance of preserving the indigenous communities that call the rainforest home.

Jeff Smith, Labour MP for Manchester Withington, attended the exhibition opening.

Jeff said:

“Sebastião Salgado’s exhibition and his powerful speech emphasised the urgent task we face in preserving the Amazon – the earth’s lungs – and preventing deforestation. The UK Government and the entire international community must urgently strengthen its anti-deforestation commitments and ensure that the indigenous communities that live there are at the heart of decision-making.”

The exhibition is open between 13 May – 14 August 2022.