The Canary and The Hammer

Photographed over four years and four continents, The Canary and The Hammer details our respect for gold and its role in the ruthless pursuit of progress by humanity. Through a mixture of images, texts and documents archival, the third book by British artist Lisa Barnard offers a fascinating insight into the troubled history of gold and the complex ways in which it intersects with the global economy. Gold is ubiquitous in modern life; the mineral is hidden at the heart of much of the technology we use and is, more fundamentally, a powerful symbol of value, of beauty, purity, greed and political power. The Canary and The Hammer strives to connect these disparate stories - from the madness of the rush to gold and the brutal world of modern mining, to the politics sexual aspects of the industry and the often dark but indispensable role of gold in heart of the high-tech industry. Driven by the financial crisis of 2008 and its stark reminder of the global West's determination to accumulate riches, Barnard sets out to question the permanent status of Gold as an economic barometer amid new intangible forms high-tech. By approaching this through photography, Barnard in turn raises the question of how his chosen medium can respond to such abstract events and concepts. The result is an ambitious project, which outlines a personal journey in which she finally addresses the complexity of material representation in these fragmented times and disturbing.