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IN BRIEF | 111

CULTURE

THE ARCTIC, A

DISAPPEARING
WORLD

In the winter solitude of the Canadian Arctic, north of
Churchill, the French director Cristiana Bontemps goes
in search of a polar bear. For five years, she ventures into
the tundra of the Wapusk National Park at -40°C, braves
storms, meets an Inuit camp near to the mythical Nor-
thwest Passage, where the coastal waters attract seals and
polar bears in spring, before setting off for Spitsbergen to
observe the ice pack.

FASHION

FOR THE OCEANS

The fashion ecologist Runa Ray invited Monaco Ocean
Week participants to visit her virtual museum with ethereal
decor surrounded by the ocean. The visitor can discover
her dresses made from cyanobacteria fibres, archaic mi- © Cristiana Bontemps
cro-organisms which become “ocean fabrics” in the skilful
hands of the Indian designer, but also her biodegradable “Encounters in the Arctic”, her documentary film (24’) made
dresses made from chlorophyll printed seaweed... A way to from her expeditions, was made available throughout Mo-
remind people that the oxygen we breathe is like a second naco Ocean Week at the site of the Monaco embassy in
skin and that it is possible to reduce microplastics produced Washington, looking at the ecology of a species in view of
by fabrics. In room 2, we discover patterned satin dresses major climate upheaval. On the list of IUCN vulnerable spe-
using floating ink art (an alternative to industrial dyes) or cies, “the bear has to adapt to a home whose walls are
inspired by marine life. Through interactive digital stands constantly moving”, the director notes. For how long will the
on her website, the designer advocates for a circular eco- species which the Inuit call “the great traveller” deal with the
nomy, recycling, zero waste initiatives, and solutions based fragile ice pack? Christian Kempf, explorer and geographer
on nature and ancient and indigenous techniques. The user specialising in the Arctic, explains that we are losing 90,000
can visit the activist’s exhibitions, who raises awareness of km of ice every year. A warning film which shines a light on
2
the environmental impact of the fashion industry and advo- one of the ocean regions most affected by the ecological
cates for a change in paradigm. crisis.