Nordic photo exhibition in Kunming wants visitors to rediscover the beauty of biodiversity
Born to Be Wild – Biodiversity through Nordic lenses
Showing 11.10.21 – 01.11.21
TCG Nordica, Kunming City, free entrance
Delegates to the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP 15) and local visitors in Kunming are invited to remember what the CBD COP 15 is all about when TCG Nordica International Art Centre opens its doors to the photo exhibition ‘Born to Be Wild – Biodiversity through Nordic lenses’, an exhibition hoping to engage its visitors with the wonders of wildlife.
Visitors are invited to the beauty of nature in Scandinavia and to meet the facial expressions of primates from all over the world (including China), seeing them with personalities, minds, and feelings not too different from ourselves.
The exhibition features three multi-award-winning Nordic wildlife photographers, Audun Rikardson (Norway), Staffan Widstrand (Sweden), and Mogens Trolle (Denmark) as well as famous Chinese wildlife photographer Xi Zhinong.
The launch of the photo exhibition coincides with the opening of CBD COP 15 in Kunming, where Government leaders from all over the world will come together – virtually and physically – to take actions to restore health and integrity of biodiversity and ecosystems. Using CBD COP 15 as momentum, visitors are encouraged to rediscover the beauty of our planet in order to help reverse the ongoing deterioration of biodiversity.
The Scandinavian Ambassadors to China, Ms. Signe Brudeset (Norway), Ms. Helena Sångeland (Sweden), and Mr. Thomas Østrup Møller (Denmark) who are in Kunming to take part in CBD COP 15, will give the opening remarks at the exhibition Sunday 10 October at 6 pm.
Ahead of CBD COP15, the Nordic Ministers of Environment and Climate adopted a declaration on biodiversity, oceans, and climate. In the declaration, the Nordic Ministers stress the need for a transformative, ambitious and effective post 2020 global biodiversity framework to be adopted at CBD COP15 in Kunming, and the importance of producing a sufficiently comprehensive knowledge base on the interaction between the sea, climate, and biodiversity.
The exhibition is a joint effort by TCG Nordica, Danish Cultural Centre in Beijing, the Norwegian Embassy, the Embassy of Sweden, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark in Beijing.
About the photographers:
Audun Rikardsen (Norway), Professor in freshwater and marine biology at the University of Tromsø, Scientific Advisor at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. Multi-award-winning wildlife photographer since 2012 specialising in Nordic animals such as whales (underwater) and eagles.
Staffan Widstrand (Sweden), Multi-award-winning wildlife photographer and author of several animal photo books and articles in i.e. National Geographic. An active voice in the public debate on nature conservation and rewilding. Staffan Widstrand is one of the founders of the ‘Wild Wonders of China’ photo project.
Mogens Trolle (Denmark), Award-winning wildlife photographer, zoologist, mammal researcher and author. He has worked with wildlife for over 25 years and on all seven continents. He specialises in animal portraits, for the past five years with a special focus on primates. Mogens Trolle has been on several photo expeditions to China and has published several books.