(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Qatar National Library (QNL) hosted an audiovisual exhibition entitled "Antarctica," which explores the spirit of discovery, scientific cooperation and cultural communication between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Chile.

The exhibition is being organized as part of the Qatar-Chile-Argentina 2025 Year of Culture, in cooperation with the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) and with the support of the Department of Cultural Affairs at the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The exhibition aims to raise public awareness about Antarctica, promote the continent as a global symbol of peace and scientific cooperation, and also highlight Chile's scientific contributions.

The exhibition includes a number of striking photographs organized around three main themes: climate change, life and biodiversity, and scientific cooperation.

The role of Qatari explorers who have undertaken expeditions to Antarctica is also highlighted, embodying the spirit of discovery, shared responsibility towards the climate, and the international cooperation for which this unique region is famous.

Marking the occasion, HE Advisor on Latin America for the Years of Culture Mohammed bin Jassim Al Kuwari said that what distinguishes this exhibition is that it brings together several countries, some of which overlook the ocean, but which share a love of exploration and respect for our planet. Through years of culture, cultural exchange can happen in different ways through science, exploration and the shared responsibility towards the Earth.

His Excellency added that every picture in the photo tells a story of cooperation and courage, a story of people working together for something bigger than themselves, and that is exactly what the Years of Culture initiative represents.

His Excellency voiced hope that the displayed images would inspire everyone to continue protecting planet Earth and building bridges of communication between cultures, however distant they may seem.

For his part, Ambassador of the Republic of Chile to the State of Qatar Patricio Diaz Bruton affirmed that the exhibition represents an opportunity to enhance acquaintance and communication between the people of the two countries, calling for a visit to the region and to see its picturesque natural life up close, and to work to protect it for the good of all humanity.

Executive Director of QNL Tan Huism said that the this exhibition invites visitors on a journey to one of the most isolated and inspiring places on Earth, a land that sparkles with light, ice and fragile beauty, where the realities of climate change, biodiversity and scientific collaboration meet.

She added that these images reflect the fragility and resilience of our planet. Antarctica does not belong to one nation, but is a continent of peace and science, a living laboratory that unites humanity in its pursuit and preservation of knowledge.

This spirit aligns with the mission of the QNL to promote knowledge production, inspire curiosity, and foster global understanding for a sustainable future.

The exhibition also features a number of Qatari adventurers, including Hamida Al Kuwari, the first Qatari woman to reach Antarctica, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Thani, who visited the continent in 2011, and Fahad Badar, who joined an expedition to the continent in 2019.

In this context, Fahad Badar told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that he is proud to participate in the exhibition, which reflects the cultural exchange between Qatar and Chile, and with other cultures, noting that the photos he participated with embody a part of his most beautiful journeys in an isolated and beautiful continent, calling for its preservation and uniqueness.

For his part, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Thani told QNA that Antarctica will always remain in his heart, as it is the farthest point he has reached physically, but the closest to his soul, adding that Antarctica has taught him that silence can be more eloquent than words, and that in the coldest places on earth he could find the deepest warmth within himself

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