site.btaPhoto Exhibition and Book on Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition Presented in Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo

A photo exhibition titled "33 Years of Bulgaria in Antarctica" and a book "Christo Pimpirev: The Antarctic Hitchhiker," authored by researcher Prof. Hristo Pimpirev in collaboration with theatre and film director Iglika Trifonova in the role of journalist and photographer, were presented in the gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Sarajevo on October 13, 2025, according to the website of the Bulgarian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

The exhibition was officially opened by Valeri Yotov, Bulgaria's Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Prof. Dr. Tarik Zaimovic, Rector of the University of Sarajevo. The photo exhibition presents scenes from Antarctica, captured during numerous Bulgarian expeditions. The photographs bear witness to the harsh but captivating world of the icy continent: its landscapes, wildlife, and the daily lives of the explorers. In this way, the exhibition visually complements the experience of the book and allows visitors to directly touch the beauty and challenges of life in Antarctica. 

In his speech, Ambassador Valeri Yotov presented the work of Prof. Pimpirev, Chair of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute at the St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia and Director of the National Polar Research Program. He also acquainted the guests with the history and activities of Bulgarian polar expeditions. Prof. Pimpirev was noted to have expressed his willingness to implement a scientific project by two University of Sarajevo scientists as part of the Bulgarian expedition to the Antarctic research station. The embassy added that including foreign participants is a tradition, with scientists from countries in the Western Balkans region having participated in Bulgarian expeditions with their own projects to date.

Prof. Tarik Zaimovic expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to present the exhibition to both academic and general audiences, emphasizing that involving representatives of the University of Sarajevo in an Antarctic expedition would foster greater cooperation between the scientific communities of Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The statement added that a preliminary selection of candidates has already been made and that their training is underway.