Poisoned City
A speculative reflection on environmental destruction and human resilience in Ghana's illegal mining crisis.
A speculative reflection on environmental destruction and human resilience in Ghana's illegal mining crisis.
A speculative reflection on environmental destruction and human resilience in Ghana's illegal mining crisis.
Tracing a Crisis.
Over the past two decades, Ghana has faced an escalating environmental crisis driven by the rise of illegal gold mining, known locally as galamsey. Once a localized practice, galamsey has grown into a widespread, unregulated force. The effects have scarred landscapes, poisoned rivers, and destabilized rural communities. Its unchecked spread, especially over the last eight years, reflects a deeper failure of regulation, equity, and ecological stewardship.
Over the past two decades, Ghana has faced an escalating environmental crisis driven by the rise of illegal gold mining, known locally as galamsey. Once a localized practice, galamsey has grown into a widespread, unregulated force. The effects have scarred landscapes, poisoned rivers, and destabilized rural communities. Its unchecked spread, especially over the last eight years, reflects a deeper failure of regulation, equity, and ecological stewardship.
Over the past two decades, Ghana has faced an escalating environmental crisis driven by the rise of illegal gold mining, known locally as galamsey. Once a localized practice, galamsey has grown into a widespread, unregulated force. The effects have scarred landscapes, poisoned rivers, and destabilized rural communities. Its unchecked spread, especially over the last eight years, reflects a deeper failure of regulation, equity, and ecological stewardship.
Aerial shot of the polluted Tano River. Illegal mines pockmark the surrounding landscape. Source: CNN
Drawing Destruction, Adaptation, and Loss.
'Poisoned City' is a visual reflection on the long-term consequences of galamsey. Through three speculative drawings, it documents the current realities and envisions future possibilities.
'Poisoned City' is a visual reflection on the long-term consequences of galamsey. Through three speculative drawings, it documents the current realities and envisions future possibilities.
'Poisoned City' is a visual reflection on the long-term consequences of galamsey. Through three speculative drawings, it documents the current realities and envisions future possibilities.
Drawing I - Reality
A depiction of the brutal conditions inside a galamsey mine. Children, often exploited for labor, appear as silhouettes against a contaminated landscape. The scene captures the immediate human toll and mourns the lives lost in the pursuit of informal wealth.
A depiction of the brutal conditions inside a galamsey mine. Children, often exploited for labor, appear as silhouettes against a contaminated landscape. The scene captures the immediate human toll and mourns the lives lost in the pursuit of informal wealth.
A depiction of the brutal conditions inside a galamsey mine. Children, often exploited for labor, appear as silhouettes against a contaminated landscape. The scene captures the immediate human toll and mourns the lives lost in the pursuit of informal wealth.
Drawing II - Adaptation
Drawing II - Adaptation
Drawing II - Adaptation
A speculative future where toxic waters have overtaken villages. Homes rise on stilts. Boats replace roads. Communities survive, but at great environmental cost. The image reflects both resilience and deep systemic failure.
A speculative future where toxic waters have overtaken villages. Homes rise on stilts. Boats replace roads. Communities survive, but at great environmental cost. The image reflects both resilience and deep systemic failure.
A speculative future where toxic waters have overtaken villages. Homes rise on stilts. Boats replace roads. Communities survive, but at great environmental cost. The image reflects both resilience and deep systemic failure.
Drawing III - Loss
Cultural and ecological collapse is rendered through imagery of once-iconic vegetation, cocoa trees, now displayed as relics in museum vitrines. A severing of land and memory. A stark warning of what exploitation erases.
Cultural and ecological collapse is rendered through imagery of once-iconic vegetation, cocoa trees, now displayed as relics in museum vitrines. A severing of land and memory. A stark warning of what exploitation erases.
Cultural and ecological collapse is rendered through imagery of once-iconic vegetation, cocoa trees, now displayed as relics in museum vitrines. A severing of land and memory. A stark warning of what exploitation erases.
Call for Reckoning.
Together, these drawings ask viewers to reflect on the long-term consequences of unchecked exploitation. What happens when environmental degradation becomes irreversible? Who pays the price? And what does it mean to preserve culture in the face of collapse?
Together, these drawings ask viewers to reflect on the long-term consequences of unchecked exploitation. What happens when environmental degradation becomes irreversible? Who pays the price? And what does it mean to preserve culture in the face of collapse?
Together, these drawings ask viewers to reflect on the long-term consequences of unchecked exploitation. What happens when environmental degradation becomes irreversible? Who pays the price? And what does it mean to preserve culture in the face of collapse?
Poisoned City calls for sustainable futures that acknowledge the cost of extraction and reimagine paths toward ecological balance and justice.
Poisoned City calls for sustainable futures that acknowledge the cost of extraction and reimagine paths toward ecological balance and justice.
Poisoned City calls for sustainable futures that acknowledge the cost of extraction and reimagine paths toward ecological balance and justice.
MADE WITH
Blender, Photoshop, Lightroom, visual storytelling
TEAM
Shameemah Fuseini-Codjoe