‘Red Bloom’ opens in Paris
As part of a collaborative project between ESA and Leica Camera, the exhibition ‘Cursed Algae – Red Bloom’ recently opened its doors at the Leica Gallery in Paris, where it will be on display until 11 January 2025.
Featuring a blend of satellite imagery from Europe’s Copernicus programme and the striking work of French photographer Alice Pallot, the collection explores the complex relationship between environmental degradation and natural beauty, focusing on the ecological crisis caused by the proliferation of green algae in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc in Brittany, France.
While ESA’s satellites provide a distant ‘eye in space’ to monitor land and oceans over extended periods, Pallot’s ground-based photographs document the alarming spread of green algae in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc, Britanny. The European Copernicus programme has allowed Europe to establish itself as a world leader in satellite-based Earth observation, a crucial activity for understanding the Earth system, achieving sustainable development goals, and mitigating the effects of climate change. Through her lens, Pallot highlights a critical environmental issue affecting marine ecosystems and biodiversity. The stunning beauty of phytoplankton blooms, visible from space, creates a striking contrast with the bleak landscapes of a polluted natural world.
A European tour: Milan, Paris, and beyond
‘Red Bloom’ in Paris, along with the recently unveiled ‘Forests seen from space’ in Milan, is part of a collaboration between ESA and Leica, developed by a concept of Fiorella Coliolo and Benoit Delplanque, who have organised several exhibitions on space across Europe. This series of exhibitions is set to tour major cities across Europe in the coming years, aiming to engage a “new” public on ESA space activities though a creative and cultural angle.
Practical Information
Location: Leica Gallery, 26 rue Boissy d’Anglas, Paris (8e arrondissement).
Dates: 12 October 2024 to 11 January 2025.
Opening time: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm. Sunday closed.
Free entry. More about the exhibition here.
For more information, please contact:
Maria Menendez
Head of Outreach Coordination Office at ESA
maria.menendez@esa.int
Franca Morgia
Outreach Coordination Officer at ESA
franca.morgia@esa.int
