THE SECOND FIRE

The title refers to an indigenous Buryat legend about the origins of Lake Baikal. According to this story, there was an enormous earthquake, fire came out of the earth, and native people cried “Bai, Gal!” or “Fire, stop!” in the Buryat language. The fire stopped, and water filled the crevice, creating the Sacred Sea. Now, scientific studies demonstrate that the Baikal region is warming faster than most places in the world. The warming of Baikal represents a “Second Fire” that threatens the Lake and the people who rely on it.

The 256-page photobook, The Second Fire, is not a traditional documentary book - it's an artistic love letter to this incomparable Lake. Not only is it the oldest, deepest, most voluminous, and most biologically diverse Lake, but remarkably, it holds one-fifth of all the freshwater in the world! Yet right now, the Lake is facing its worst crisis ever. Rapid climate change is threatening the entire ecosystem. In response, one of the remaining environmental activists who is unafraid to speak out, wrote: “The year 2026 could be fatal for Lake Baikal.” 

The book conveys the vastness, spirituality, and mystery of the Lake while also featuring its resilient people and quirky sites. It  includes three essential essays by some of the most important authorities on Baikal today (aquatic biologist Dr. Marianne Moore of Wellesley College, expert on activism Kate Pride Brown of Georgia Tech University, and anthropologist Anna Sirina of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 

The Second Fire features a contemporary, innovative design featuring multiple premium paper types and a folded dust jacket that doubles as a two-sided poster.

Gabriela Bulišová and Mark Isaac are artists currently based in the Czech Republic who collaborate on long-term, socially conscious projects focused on the environmental crisis, trauma, memory, and reconciliation. Their commitment to these issues is fed by a passion to engender meaningful changes in policy. Among other awards, they have received four Fulbright grants in Europe and Asia. Their artwork has been exhibited in galleries in nine different nations.

From May 18th to August 16th, 2026, the House of Photography in Prague will host a major exhibition of the work. The exhibition will include large photographic prints, two large-scale three-channel videos, original music based on climate data, and more.

Video about the project: https://vimeo.com/1166118363