The award-winning photographer, neurobiologist, and therapist Ivana Dostálová has created an exceptional project, Plavkyně / Swimming Women, presenting thirty women and thirty authentic stories connected to water and swimming. The exhibition offers a unique perspective on water as a mother with open arms—a symbol of safety and acceptance—and on swimming as a means of self-discovery, mental release, and equality.

 The project grew out of the author’s personal experience and, within a limited time frame, involved dialogue with women aged 16 to 75. Each of the portrayed women—including managers, students, mothers, former competitive swimmers, women after cancer treatment, and those who have faced body shaming—openly expressed her experience of water and swimming through movement, a photographic portrait, and a handwritten text. 

 “In the water, difference is naturally washed away; social roles, judgement, and performance pressure disappear. A swim cap becomes a symbol of equality,” the author says. The Plavkyně series is not only a visual portrait, but also a psychological study and a psychosocial insight that supports women’s mental health care. The project emphasizes natural bodily diversity, authenticity, and women’s empowerment. 

The project received an Honorable Mention at the prestigious IPA (International Photography Awards) 2023, in the Deeper Perspective Award category, for its photographic approach and its contribution to the community. Since its inception, it has reached thousands of Czech women through media coverage and an outdoor installation on Prague’s riverfront (Náplavka).