This exhibition presents photography, as well as other art forms, of Czech scientific activities in Antarctica, with an emphasis on their ecological focus. The Czech Republic has two polar stations in Antarctica; both operated by Masaryk University, which closely cooperates with the Czech Antarctic Foundation (‘Český antarktický nadační fond’), the exhibition organiser.
Czech scientists in Antarctica
Czech scientists have been active in Antarctica since the 1960s. They mainly use the facilities of the Czech Johann Greg Mendel Station on James Ross Island in Weddell where they test and use renewable energy sources, particularly wind turbines and solar panels. The second base is Eco-Nelson Station, located on Nelson Island, one of the South Shetland Islands. In this station, the waste washed-up on the shore has been collected for many years.
Cleaning expedition
Waste is the theme of the Pure Antarctica exhibition. In the spring of 2019, a cleaning expedition was organised, focused on the removal and ecological disposal of waste in Antarctica. This is marine waste from the Southern Ocean that surrounds Antarctica and which is known as one of the cleanest in the world. The continuous increase of pollution caused by humans shows an increasing threat to the whole ecosystem, which includes the marine animals that die there as a result of consuming plastic and other waste.
An artist inspired by ecology
The Czech artist Veronika Podlasová was part of the expedition. In her paintings of snowflakes, Podlasová highlights the fragile balance of the ecosystem. Her graphic works complement the exhibition of photographs from the ecological expedition.
The first Czech explorer in Antarctica
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the first Czech person to set foot on Antartica. Dr. Václav Vojtěch, geography teacher, scientist and polar explorer, entered the land of eternal ice on the 27th of January 1929 as a participant in an American expedition.
The exhibition is held under the auspices of Petr Hlubuček, Deputy Mayor of Prague.
For further information, please visit: http://www.antarcticfoundation.cz/en/