TEGENPOLEN: Een artistieke tijdreis naar Antarctica

What is the link between Ostend and the South Pole? Polar explorer Adrien de Gerlache lived in Ostend, studied at nautical college and became an officer on the Ostend-Dover milling boat. In 1897, de Gerlache left Ostend for Antarctica for the heroic Belgica expedition that would last 15 months. The scientific work of the expedition ensured that little Belgium is still inextricably linked to the South Pole.

Eastern maritime photographer Mike Louagie and author Lien De Ruyck spent several months together spent several months exploring the polar regions by ship. In the context of Ensor 2024, they present a photo exhibition on the Antarctic of then and now, starring Adrien de Gerlache and James Ensor, two opposites who attracted and inspired each other.