Richard Mosse: Broken Spectre

An exhibition review of Richard Mosse: Broken Spectre at Centre Phi, Montreal which considers the activist intent of the work. The 74-minute film represents human-scale, microscopic scale, and macroscopic scale sequences, including black-and-white solarized footage and multi-spectral drone imagery, to depict the devastation of the Amazon rainforest. While praised for its innovation, critics have argued the work risks aestheticizing suffering and diluting engagement with geopolitical issues. Mosse platforms Indigenous voices who urge viewers to act against the Amazon’s exploitation, but questions remain about art’s ability to motivate tangible political action.