This journey spanned some of the most remote and vulnerable regions of our planet—from the icy silence of the Southern Ocean to the fading traditions of the Pacific islands.
What I shared with you online were quick snapshots—just iPhone and drone images. The real work, captured with my camera, is coming home with me for a future exhibition and a long-planned book project. But first, I’m preparing for my upcoming exhibition, “From Kings to Emperors,” featuring new photographs from six Antarctic expeditions, including my most recent voyage. This summer will also see a large outdoor exhibition at Rivierenhof, Antwerp (Belgium).
In Antarctica, I stood before the massive Wilkins Ice Shelf—a fragile tipping point in West Antarctica—and witnessed the ethereal glow of the Aurora Australis. It was a reminder of both the awe and urgency of this region.
From there, I embarked on a long, 17,000-kilometre journey via Papeete to Mangareva, before boarding the M/V Silver Supporter—the only vessel connecting to the isolated island of Pitcairn. With just 37 inhabitants, Pitcairn offered rare insights into resilience and remoteness. I conducted interviews and created a photographic report that will evolve into a detailed photo story.
The next chapter took me deeper into French Polynesia—exploring the Marquesas, the Society Islands, and Mangareva in the Gambier archipelago—before flying to Hawaii. There, I returned to Big Island to complete my long-term project on Mauna Kea. Thanks to exclusive access to the KECK telescopes, I spent nights photographing from the summit under the stars.
In Micronesia, I finally reached the last of its four states I had yet to document: Yap. A place where wealth is not exchanged, but remembered—symbolised by the famous Rai stones, resting in ‘stone money banks.’ Here, traditional seafaring skills, passed down orally without instruments, still survive. I saw coastal erosion up close and heard firsthand from local communities about their growing concerns.
I then made my way to Falalop in the Ulithi Atoll, one of the Pacific’s hidden gems. It was a rare moment of solitude and connection to nature, listening to the daily rhythms of life in a disappearing world.
My final stretch took me to the Northern Mariana Islands: Rota, Tinian (where remnants of WWII history like the atomic bomb loading pits still exist), and Saipan, where I stood in silence at the Banzai Cliff. I concluded this transformative journey in Guam, before flying home via Seoul and Doha.
Thank you for following along, for your messages, and your support.
I’m now shifting focus to upcoming keynotes in France and Austria, while finalising preparations for the exhibition “From Kings to Emperors,” opening this July in Antwerp’s city centre.
Hope to see you there. Stay tuned.
Follow Christian's work at www.clauwers.com