The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is one of the highest, driest places on earth. The landscape is extraordinary, with mountains, salt flats, volcanoes, the world’s highest geyser field, and beautiful multi-colored traces of mineral deposits as far as the eye can see. But there is little else.
Sislen’s photographs depict subjects he continually returns to, especially the desolation and beauty of the desert. While he has repeatedly photographed White sands and Death Valley, this desert, the Atacama, is different. Unlike areas of Death Valley that are below sea level, the Atacama is a “high desert,” with mountains exceeding 20,000 feet in many locations.
The photographs in this exhibit were taken at heights of 7,500 t0 15,800 feet. The air is thin and rainfall has never been recorded in many areas. Although devoid of rain, the Atacama has been home to South American Indians for thousands of years. Rich in minerals, the Atacama has been mined for copper, gold, sodium nitrate (saltpeter), and more recently, lithium. Beautiful pale colors are seen at one altitude and strong, deep earthy tones are seen at another.
The Atacama is unique, with a geological history that is only matched by the visual delights that are found there.
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