“WÜST”: Water shortage in Iran and Mongolia

Julian Kolb studied B.A. Grafikdesign und Visuelle Kommunikation at the Media University Cologne (German only). In his bachelor’s thesis, he examined the global development of desertification. Kolb presented his results in the Media University’s own gallery, Galerie Hundert, as part of his exhibition “Wüst”. In this exhibition, he documents his expeditions to Mongolia and Iran using impressive images.

During his expedition to Mongolia, locals described to him the problems of increasing desertification and the drying out of entire regions. Kolb documented his observations with his camera and has made it his mission to draw attention to the progressive destruction of the environment.

Kolb explains that the lifestyle in Europe also contributes to this destruction as follows. Cashmere wool is Mongolia’s most important export product. Due to the increasing demand and the price war, the herders living in Mongolia are forced to increase the size of their herds. Nature suffers most from the increasing number of cashmere goats, as the animals destroy swards, the soil cannot hold the water and erodes. The result is barren land, which is increasing in number. Kolb therefore also makes an appeal: pay attention to prices, because cheap goods make it difficult for the herders to make a profit, which is why they are increasing the size of their herds even further.