Veronika is a 28-year-old artist and chef from the Czech Republic. From the plates she prepares to the artworks she creates, Veronika’s sole ambition is to raise awareness about the drastic impact humans have on the environment. This led her to travel alongside scientists for 6 weeks to Nelson Island and Kings George Island, in the icy lands of Antarctica, to pick up trash and report back to us what she witnessed through her artwork.
“I am trying to explore alternative visions to create a better relationship between humans and nature.” - Veronika
Part 1: Before the trip
How did you get the idea to go to Antarctica? Who did you contact?
I used to be terrified of water; but when I visited Iceland and saw my first glaciers and icebergs I created a special connection with them. I could feel and see the importance of water in the substance of great ice fields. The idea to go to Antarctica first came up in New Zealand. One day, I had a conversation with a friend of mine, who is a doctor in glaciology, about his university projects. He mentioned one lady named Adele Jackson, who studied Arts and Antarctica. Not long after our talk, I met with her. I felt overwhelmed by our conversation. She gave me a push to create artwork about Antarctica , or even going to there. I knew I needed to create artwork about the earth's physical stock of freshwater; about Antarctic ice fields. The main inspiration would be to see these pure fragile fields by myself. When I came back from New Zealand I contacted the Czech Antarctic Research Programme and the Czech Antarctic Foundation. Few talks, events, and some cooperation led to a real possibility to join a team and go to Antarctica as a volunteer. It was a great coincidence as the program was searching for volunteers who would clean up the debris from the southern ocean. I wanted to be part of the cleaning as well as document the whole journey in the form of art.
Did you meet with the team of scientists before going on this adventure?
We had a briefing with all volunteers before deciding to join the team. I was also in touch with the two main chiefs from the antarctic programme. (...) Ornithologist Vaclav Pavel was part of the scientific team and thanks to him, I could use a lot of scientific data and thus support my artwork background. This allowed me to learn a lot about antarctic fauna. Mainly about birdlife in the southern hemisphere. We were also geo-tracking a few of the arctic terns. The map of their journey is pictured in my artwork from Antarctica.
How much preparation, mental or physical did you have to go through for this journey?
We had just one weekend out in the mountains of Krkonoše (Czech Republic). We were supposed to stay 48 hours outside in the middle of winter. Digging and sleeping inside of a snow pit. It was more fun than anything else I must say, even though it was physically a little bit demanding. The worst part for me was my diet as a vegetarian. I was told to eat meat way before the journey as there is no way to risk any stomach problems out in Antarctica. There is no time or resources for a special diet out in the field. In the end, I sorted it out and I survived without eating meat. I survived on lots of dried fruit, nuts, lentils, and supplements. I was feeling much more tired than my teammates though. We were camping outside and eating a lot right before we went to sleep, which was a key to how to stay warm during the night. When you digest your body is still “working” and thus raising the body's temperature.
Part 2: To the land of glaciers
What do you recall about your journey to Antarctica?
The biggest challenge regarding the Antarctica trip was crossing Drake's passage. Everybody was warning me about the hectic journey on the boat. I was lucky as the ocean wasn't as rough as I was told. It was still challenging and motion sickness was part of it. Nevertheless, it was all part of the experience and I liked being part of it. On the boat, you have a lot of time. Time to enjoy the air, to go from one side of the boat to the other ten times per hour, to watch albatrosses, to see moving waves, to see the void, time to reorganize your thoughts. However, I am not going to lie, I came back rather depressed from what I saw and the massive carbon footprint I engendered.
Once there, what impressed you the most about Antarctica? Was it like you pictured it? What did you see or hear?
I was surprised by how much life there is. Of course, Antarctica is a vast continent and if you go further into the field there is no life, no colours, just plain white country with beautiful mountains. But the place where we stayed most of the time was right by the ocean and various penguins, seals and other birds were keeping us a company. When we went to sleep I could hear penguins singing. I could hear roam, cracking and fizzing sounds of calving icebergs from the next bay.
What is your best memory from this journey?
The day when we arrived at Kings George Island a massive iceberg calved off from the glacier. Day by day it was getting warmer and the iceberg was breaking into small parts. Some of the parts were coming closer and closer. In the end, we were able to go so close to the zodiac that I could feel the freezing breath from the piece of ice. That was the moment worth endless freezing nights, wet clothes and cold fingers from collecting trash and spending time in isolation with five other strangers. Seeing the beautiful blue void left a huge mark on my soul. I felt even more pressure to create an art piece that would evoke the same emotions that I had and that would wake people up to look after our planet better.
What was the hardest part of this project?
I felt very heavy all the time when we were cleaning the mess. We have collected almost 6 tons of trash. All the rubbish was transported to Chile where it was separated for recycling and safer disposal. (...) Also, I met a few people at the Russian station and they did not care about nature, they did not care about Antarctica. Of course, the reason why they were working in Antarctica stations was to escape their system. They were from different fields (logistic or industrial) and looked after stations around. Staying with not like-minded people was a big challenge for me as well. This trip taught me a lot, not just from a scientific perspective but also about social behaviour and mainly I learned from self-observation. But going back to reality was the hardest part.
Part 3: Her art
How long have you been doing art? What type of art?
I have always been interested in art. As a kid, I was always creative. Only in the UK did I realize I had to follow my heart and study art. It was in art college that I understood the beauty of conceptual art. I create various artworks. My favourites are bookbinding, illustrations, playing with the structures and lights of paper. My recent signature is watercolours though. I use meltwater from icebergs. I collect icebergs all around the globe and let them melt on the paper. The meltwater together with pigment and natural sediment leaves the trace of disappearing glaciers. The most recent works from Antarctica create a physical narrative of my journey to the southern hemisphere. It created a permanent memorial to a loss we seem incapable of stopping. A memorial of beautiful glaciers.
Was the art created on the spot or once you came back? If on the spot, what type of material did you bring with you? And how much did you take from the spot? What was your method?
Some of the artwork was created right in Antarctica, it was mainly small watercolours finished with the line of our movement of the boat on our way back to Chile. When you are in Antarctica you must remember that all organic material is very important for our whole earth cycle thus you should not spoil anything by your activity. You are allowed to take organic samples only if you are using it for scientific research thus I used excluded water samples that were supposed to examine algae and microorganisms in cryoconite on the top of glaciers. I also brought some melted water samples with me and created bigger art pieces. I am very proud of every single art piece as every closeup shows the raw material from Antarctica, this is because I used water that was full of organic life.
Why do you think it is so important to use art to talk about such a scientific topic? What is the purpose of the artwork?
Art and science is a very important part of our society. Art can educate people and inspire others no matter their background. Communicating through art, rather than dry facts and statics, will bridge the gap between art, emotions, and science. People are emotionally moved by artworks, they might be moved even by the story behind. I want to use my art as a tool to make people aware of global issues. I am convinced that art is the key to unlocking the door of science for everyone. Art and science are two equal concepts of a full understanding of what it means to be human. I am human. I want to tell a story of ice that melted off the antarctic ice sheet, the story of the polluted ocean, the story of a fragile planet.
Part 4: Veronika's advice to you
What is your overall advice to someone who wants to help the planet but doesn’t know how?
Small things matter, the same as with my favourite climbing. Never give up. Fall down, get back up and carry on. It is a constant process. I think the world is beautiful and it can be saved by the appreciation of beauty. To notice the beauty around us is important. Different people are facing a climate crisis in various forms. We should realize this, we have an effect on the system every day because of how we act and how we talk. To decide not to do something is much more comfortable. Climate crisis is happening and we must act. NOW. Be active, read a lot about how to save the planet. There are so many sources. Just treat the planet around you with respect. Reduce your meat consumption or better do not eat meat. Stop buying new products. Remember every single new item involves factory work and water consumption. Same goes for food. Buy local products, recycle and limit your waste. Read About the political situation, vote for people who want to be responsible. Do small steps, every day.
Any advice to someone who would like to do the same thing you’ve done?
There is a worldwide organization called Trash Hero. Just follow their events in the city where you live and help to clean up the environment where you live. If you want to be even more active, join extension rebellion or at least follow them and learn more about how to act.
Anything else that you think the audience should know?
We are in the moment of life where we have everything. Now it is time to wake up. The planet gave us a real kick and now it is up to us how we will deal with it. It will be hard times for us but just because we did not appreciate enough what we had. Know it is time to appreciate medical care, teachers, family, friends, our inner beauty, freedom and the joy of fresh air when we can go out with our friends. Treat the planet as you would be in the quarantine for the next couple of years. Treat it well and you will be well. We are living a part of the history of human influence. Things as glaciers seem to be eternal but they vanished forever-this is a result of human activity. Stay silent NO LONGER feels like an option.
To see or buy Veronika's artworks:
Exhibition:
"During summer time in 2019, we had an exhibition “clean Antarctica” in New Town Hall in Prague. This exhibition should repeat in May 2020 in Brno but at this moment nobody knows what will be next (due to the recent CoronaVirus pandemic)."
Artworks on display at:
The Bowls - Bistro in Prague
Pavla Švandy ze Semčic 388/16,
150 00 Praha 5-Smíchov
Czech Republic
Veronika's website:
Social media:
Instagram: @gibartist
Facebook: podlasova.veronika
"Most of the art works are for sale. I am not putting prices up on the website as I do want to put the pressure on the message of the artwork, not on the commercial side of it. I am always happy when somebody contacts me privately." - Veronika
Article by:
Lena Fix
Editor in chief at The ComPost.
Pictures provided by:
Veronika
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