Zed Nelson's 'The Anthropocene Illusion' Exhibition at Somerset House Confronts Artificial Nature

Photographer Zed Nelson's project 'The Anthropocene Illusion' examines humanity's creation of artificial landscapes while destroying natural ones. The series, developed over six years across 14 countries on four continents, captures synthetic beaches, false snow, and endangered animals in zoos. Nelson won Sony World Photographer of the Year in 2025 for this work, now exhibited at Somerset House in London until 4 May. He describes modern nature as a 'stage-managed experience,' citing a visit to Polaria ocean museum in Tromsø, Norway, where bearded seals lived on fibreglass rocks. The project explores how humans create illusions to hide from environmental devastation, with wildlife populations declining 73% between 1970 and 2020 according to WWF's Living Planet Report. Nelson uses a medium format film camera and meticulous planning, spending days photographing subjects like a chimpanzee in a Chinese zoo against painted backdrops. His career has addressed gun culture, beauty ideals, and gentrification, with 'Gun Nation' sparking death threats and NRA protests in America. He believes art contributes to cultural conversations rather than directly changing the world. Nelson's next project focuses on granting legal rights to nature.