This is through an exhibition entitled ‘Treasures of Seychelles’ which exhibit a genuine coco-de-mer and man-made art in the form of photographs by German photographer Angelika Fischer as well as paintings and etchings by Seychelles artists George and Flocel Camille.

Guests at the official opening of the exhibition on April 20 were welcomed by the director of the institution, Dr Matthias Jenny, as well as Edith Hunzinger, regional manager of the Seychelles Tourist Office, who had originally donated the seeds for the tree to Dr Jenny’s predecessor many years ago.

As a representative of the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF), its chief executive, German-born Dr Frauke Fleischer-Dogley, was able to introduce the audience to SIF’s important work. At the end of her speech, she surprised Dr Jenny with the gift of another coco-de-mer freshly imported from Praslin.

The opening was also attended by Max Hunzinger, honorary consul for Seychelles in Germany, as well as other dignitaries and representatives of the local government.

Flocel Camille, who has been living in Germany for the past six years, and his younger brother George, also attended the opening of the month-long exhibition that displays a number of paintings depicting the Seychelles islands’ bountiful nature in general as well as etchings highlighting the coco-de-mer in particular.

Another part of the hall shows impressive black-and-white photographs of the Vallée de Mai and its coco-de-mer trees captured by Angelika Fischer, a well-known freelance photographer from Berlin who visited Seychelles several times in the past and had her work published in Mare, a glossy travel magazine, as well as in the book Coco de Mer: Myth and Eros of the Sea Coconut, co-published by Dr Fleischer-Dogley.

A local porcelain manufacture – Höchster Porzellanmanufaktur – established in 1746, contributed a replica of the coco-de-mer to the exhibition.

The exhibit is open to all visitors of the Palmengarten from April 21 through May 22 2011. In the night of May 7/8, Frankfurt will celebrate its annual ‘Museum Night’ when all of the city’s museums, including the Palmengarten, will be accessible to the public throughout the night.

On this special occasion, Emmanuel Marie and dancers from Seychelles, flown in by Air Seychelles, will add another aspect of the islands’ culture to the exhibit by providing Creole music and entertainment.

Visitors of the exhibit have a chance to win a one-week holiday for two on Praslin, co-sponsored by Condor airline and the Coco de Mer Hotel. In addition, in a special ‘Museum Night’ raffle at one o’clock on Sunday morning, two visitors will win another one-week holiday on Praslin, co-sponsored by Condor and the Castello Beach Hotel.

Local airline Air Seychelles has also brought its support to this campaign by donating four air tickets.