The exhibition is organized in partnership with the Institute of Zoology of the Republic of Kazakhstan and will present not only coral reefs, but also the biodiversity of Kazakhstan.
The opening of the photo exhibition will take place on April 2 at 13:00 at the following address: 617 Seifullin Avenue, Forum Shopping Mall, 1st floor.
The exhibition is organized within the framework of the international project World Unseen: Coral Matchmaking – a joint initiative of Canon, the British laboratory Coral Spawning International, and the Seychelles-based conservation organization Nature Seychelles. The international team has joined efforts to implement a coral reef restoration project using innovative technologies.
The project’s goal is not merely to document the disappearance of reefs, but to attempt to restart their future. The objectives include developing corals that are more resilient to climate change, helping them adapt in their natural environment, creating conditions for their reproduction, and strengthening their gene pool.
Coral reefs are the “tropical forests of the sea.” Although they occupy less than 1% of the ocean floor, they support 25% of all marine species. Reefs serve as powerful natural barriers, absorbing up to 97% of wave energy and protecting coastlines from erosion and storms. They are critically important to the global economy, providing food, fisheries, and tourism for hundreds of millions of people.
Main functions of coral reefs:
- Biological role: Centers of biodiversity that provide shelter, food, and breeding grounds for thousands of species of fish, mollusks, and other organisms.
- Coastal protection: Reefs act as breakwaters, preventing shoreline destruction, flooding, and erosion.
- Carbon cycle and balance: Corals contribute to carbon dioxide fixation and build reefs from calcium carbonate, participating in the regulation of ocean chemistry.
- Scientific and medical potential: Compounds with antibacterial properties have been discovered in corals, offering prospects for new medicines.
- Economic significance: The annual global economic value of reefs is estimated in billions of US dollars, supporting fisheries and tourism.
Threats to the ecosystem:
Coral reefs are extremely fragile and suffer from climate change (bleaching due to rising water temperatures), pollution, overfishing, and destructive fishing practices. Bleached corals stop growing and gradually degrade.
In this project, Canon acts not only as a technological partner, but also as a mediator between science and society. Cameras, including the Canon EOS R System, capture the unseen, while printing technologies transform data into exhibitions, educational materials, and even tactile images for visually impaired audiences.
The exhibition is organized by Canon in partnership with the Institute of Zoology of the Republic of Kazakhstan and highlights not only coral reefs, but also the biodiversity of Kazakhstan.
The exhibition will feature works by Kazakhstani photographers and researchers:
- Dmitry Malakhov, Head of the GIS and Remote Sensing Department, Institute of Zoology RK;
- Vladislav Yakushkin, photographer;
- Gennady Dyakin, birdwatcher;
- Vladimir Timokhanov and Timofey Bannikov, designers, Institute of Zoology RK;
- Asem Baimukanova, Researcher, Institute of Hydrobiology and Ecology.
The opening of the photo exhibition will take place on April 2 at 13:00 at 617 Seifullin Avenue, Forum Shopping Mall, 1st floor. Admission is free!
The exhibition of coral photography and works by Kazakhstani specialists will run for two months and will close on June 2, 2026.
Exhibition partners:
- British laboratory Coral Spawning International
- Seychelles-based conservation organization Nature Seychelles
- Institute of Zoology, Committee of Science, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Institute of Hydrobiology and Ecology
Visit the exhibition to learn more about the role of coral reefs and the project aimed at their conservation. Perhaps through imagery, science, and culture, the unseen world will gain a chance to remain alive.
