romain veillon captures abandoned places reclaimed by nature in the absence of humanity

what would the earth look like if humans suddenly disappeared?

christina petridou October 11, 2023 3 min

Green Urbex 2 photo book by romain veillon

In his latest release, Green Urbex 2, French photographer Romain Veillon invites us to ponder an intriguing question: What would the earth look like if humans suddenly disappeared? In this second book of the series, Veillon takes us on a visual journey, offering a glimpse into a world where abandoned places across the globe are slowly but surely reclaimed by nature.

Through a collection of striking photographs, Veillon showcases the relentless forces of decay as they gradually consume human-made structures, from castles and houses, to churches and factories. His lens reveals how these once-vibrant spaces succumb to deterioration and become enveloped by the unstoppable forces of the natural world.

what would the world look like without us?

Leafing through the pages of Green Urbex 2, readers perceive the progressive transformation of our built environment. Dust blankets forgotten floors, walls crumble and crack, and wood rots away, all while nature inexorably reclaims its territory. The visuals vividly illustrate the strength of the natural world as it gradually invades these abandoned structures.

In many ways, these images serve as modern Memento Mori, as the photographer mentioned, gently reminding us of our mortality and the delicate balance between humanity and our planet. Drawing inspiration from 18th-century paintings of ruins, Veillon’s work forces us to confront the fragility of our civilization and underscores the urgent need to respect and protect our environment.

Through more than 200 photographs, Veillon leads viewers on an exploration of castles, schools, hospitals, factories, and churches that have been forgotten by society. As a nod to the environmental significance of his work, Mathieu Bablet, a well-known author of graphic novels like Shangri-La and Carbone and Silicium, contributes a meaningful introduction to the book. His words resonate with Veillon’s mission, emphasizing the importance of harmonious coexistence between humanity and our habitat, as nature’s resilience slowly overcomes a world of ruins and overgrown vegetation.

Green Urbex 2 is a contemplative journey that challenges us to reflect on our impact on the world around us and the urgent need to live in harmony with our planet. Through Veillon’s lens, we witness the remarkable story of nature reasserting its dominion over what was once its own.

romain veillon captures abandoned places reclaimed by nature in the absence of humanity

romain veillon captures abandoned places reclaimed by nature in the absence of humanity the book takes us on a visual exploration, from castles and schools to hospitals and churches a contemplative journey that challenges us to reflect on our impact on the world