Gold is everywhere in modern life – a powerful symbol of value, beauty, greed and politics. In The Canary and The Hammer, Lisa Barnard explores the troubled history of gold, our reverence for it and its role in our endless pursuit of progress and wealth.  

Photographed across four years and four continents, the project was prompted by the 2008 financial crisis. Barnard brings together contrasting yet intertwined stories, from ecological destruction and human exploitation in mining, to gold’s importance as an invisible component in medicine and technology. 

Canaries have long been recognised for their crucial role in mines, serving as an early warning system for carbon monoxide and ensuring miners’ safety. Likewise, gold is a reliable barometer of economic stability; its price consistently reflects the fluctuations of the market. Just as a canary signals impending danger, gold is a powerful indicator of upcoming crises.

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