Explorateurs polonais du Nouveau Monde et des îles du Pacifique : prédécesseurs et successeurs de Sir Paweł Edmund Strzelecki [EXHIBITION]

The exhibition Explorateurs polonais du Nouveau Monde et des Îles du Pacifique: Prédécesseurs et Successeurs de Sir Paweł Edmund Strzelecki focuses on a unique and frequently overlooked chapter in Polish history, which is the involvement of Polish scientists, travellers, and explorers beyond the borders of Europe. Stimulated by their curiosity about the world, these individuals ventured to the newly discovered Pacific islands. They arrived in the region as members of geographical expeditions or as migrants, forced to leave Poland as a result of the partitions or political repression. However, what they all had in common was a desire to discover, understand and describe the world’s remote corners.

The exhibition explores the various profiles of these figures. It demonstrates how they perceived and analysed other cultures. Unlike the colonisers, many Polish scientists and travellers viewed the inhabitants of Oceania with openness and empathy, treating them as equals. They regarded them as individuals deserving of respect and careful observation, rather than as objects to be conquered. This makes their contribution to the study of local culture all the more valuable. The exhibition also illustrates how the Poles documented the daily lives, customs, languages and views of the peoples of the Pacific at a pivotal moment in history, on the threshold of rapid change resulting from contact with Western countries. It also reflects on Polish identity and Poland’s place in the global legacy of geographical discovery. Despite not existing as a state in the nineteenth century, Poland’s citizens, scattered around the world, actively participated in the era’s intellectual and scientific processes.

During the exhibition, the film Polish Explorers of the New World and the Islands of the Pacific, commissioned by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2023, will also be screened.

The exhibition is organised and created by the Polish Branch of The Explorers Club. The Polish Academy of Sciences Scientific Center in Paris is a partner of the event.

Task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland as part of the Public Diplomacy 2023 grant.

Due to the limited number of places, those interested in attending the event are invited to register by sending an email to secretariat@paris.pan.pl or by filling out the form: https://forms.office.com/e/AqTrvgrtb7

The event will be held in French.

By registering for the event, you accept the rules for the processing of personal data.