The French Institute in Turkmenistan invites you to visit the photo exhibition “Koytendag”, opened in the “Nadar” gallery on the territory of the Institute.

Entrance is open to everyone from November 1 until the end of January 2025, daily from 9:00 to 20:00.

The exhibition is organised in collaboration with the French Federation of Speleology (FFS) and presents original photographs documenting the work of French cavers in the caves of the Koitendag massif during two FFS expeditions led by Jean-Pierre Gruat.

The expedition members studied about 10 caves, including the Geophysical, Hashim-Oyuk and the longest cave system, Kap-Kutan. In total, 19 km of topography was completed and full photogrammetry was conducted. The survey and study of the fauna in the caves and karst springs allowed them to discover species that had not been previously studied in Turkmenistan. Philippe Crochet and his wife Annie Gier were responsible for the photo documentation. As recognized specialists in underground photography, they have been working in caves all over the world for many years. And when they were offered to take part in the Koytendag project, they immediately agreed.

The aim of these shoots is to highlight the unique natural environment in order to contribute to its protection in the future.

The photographs in the Nadir Gallery present the mysterious world of the Koytendag caves. In many of the photographs, you can see a fragile female figure in a red jumpsuit – this is Annie Geer posing against the backdrop of the karst spaces.
Another universe, located deep underground and hidden from human eyes, has become closer to us thanks to the photographs of Philippe Crochet. We look at this world through his eyes – an artist, a romantic and a brave man.

Each photograph has a description in French and Russian.