On his most recent trip to Greenland, photographer Ciril Jazbec witnessed something magical—a photographic experience that made his “hairs stand on end.” He was there working on his project, On Thin Ice, a chapter in a larger body of work chronicling the effects of climate change on communities in low-lying regions.
While in Uummannaq, (which is surprisingly the eleventh-largest town in Greenland, even with a population of about 1,200 people) Jazbec came across Children’s Home Uummannaq. Speaking with the director, he learned that one of the ways the facility helps children is by “involving them in the traditional way of life, connecting them with hunters and fishermen”—the sort of cultural traditions often affected by changing weather patterns and globalization, and right in the crux of Jazbec’s goal of putting a human face on climate change.
One night, Children’s Home arranged to take the kids on a special outing—“We decided to head to the ice—to the frozen-over sea—to project Inuk, a Greenlandic language film, onto an iceberg,” Ciril says. The film is especially relevant because of its cast of “nonprofessional Inuit actors”—seal hunters and youth from a local children’s home—and its narrative highlighting the tension between tradition and modernity present in contemporary Greenland.
“In a visual sense, it was one of the craziest things I’ve ever experienced. It’s hard for me to describe how much it inspired me and how touched I was. Just coming onto the ice with snowmobiles was immensely exciting. Before the projector was set up, the children did a couple of dances and sang some Greenlandic songs. I only watched the first 10 minutes of the movie and then I decided to use the tripod to discreetly shoot multi-second exposure photos, trying to capture the images illuminated by the projection. I remember a moment where I laid down on the ice, I was watching the stars and the northern lights, and I thought to myself, ‘this is a very special moment.’”
Screening a film onto an iceberg sounds logistically complicated . . . and cold. Jazbec says the preparation took a few days. “We did some recon on the ice to find a suitable iceberg and prepared a DVD player and sound system powered by a gasoline-fueled generator. The seats were just sleds covered with deer and musk ox skin.” And as for the temperature? “The weather was provided by some higher power . . . It was perfect, about –4 degrees Fahrenheit, with no wind and the most beautiful starry night sky sprayed with northern lights.”
As children caught between the old ways and the new sat transfixed by the film, their faces illuminated with light from the digital projector, Jazbec felt he was able to record images that “don’t just tell the story of a moment, but also capture a larger story about modern Greenland—remote towns caught up in globalization, about young people leaving for the cities.”
“I’m not interested in merely taking pretty pictures of communities undergoing momentous changes, I’m looking to create a long-term life’s work that stands as a document of a time and a people who lived in this time, reminding us of how things used to be and cautioning us that our planet is delicate and fragile.”
Learn more about the film Inuk on its site.
Ciril Jazbec’s project, On Thin Ice, will be on view in an exhibition at the Les Rencontres Arles Photographie from July 7-September 21, 2014. See more of Jazbec’s work on his website. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.
Follow Becky Harlan on Twitter and Instagram.
You May Also Like
Go Further
Animals
- These 'trash fish' are among Earth's most primitive animalsThese 'trash fish' are among Earth's most primitive animals
- These photos are works of art—and the artists are bugsThese photos are works of art—and the artists are bugs
- The epic migration of a 6-foot long, 200-pound catfishThe epic migration of a 6-foot long, 200-pound catfish
- Frans de Waal, biologist who studied animal emotion, dies at 75Frans de Waal, biologist who studied animal emotion, dies at 75
Environment
- Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet? The answer isn't clear-cut.Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet? The answer isn't clear-cut.
- This year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning signThis year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning sign
- The U.S. just announced an asbestos ban. What took so long?The U.S. just announced an asbestos ban. What took so long?
- The most dangerous job? Inside the world of underwater weldersThe most dangerous job? Inside the world of underwater welders
- The harrowing flight that wild whooping cranes make to surviveThe harrowing flight that wild whooping cranes make to survive
History & Culture
- Meet the powerful yokai that inspired the demon king in ‘Demon Slayer’Meet the powerful yokai that inspired the demon king in ‘Demon Slayer’
- A surprising must-wear for European monarchs? Weasels.A surprising must-wear for European monarchs? Weasels.
- Meet the woman who made Polaroid into a cultural iconMeet the woman who made Polaroid into a cultural icon
- Inside the observatory that birthed modern astrophysicsInside the observatory that birthed modern astrophysics
Science
- LED light treatments for skin are trendy—but do they actually work?LED light treatments for skin are trendy—but do they actually work?
- NASA smashed an asteroid. The debris could hit Mars.NASA smashed an asteroid. The debris could hit Mars.
- Humans really can have superpowers—scientists are studying themHumans really can have superpowers—scientists are studying them
- Why engineers are concerned about aging infrastructureWhy engineers are concerned about aging infrastructure
Travel
- 2024 will be huge for astrotourism—here’s how to plan your trip2024 will be huge for astrotourism—here’s how to plan your trip
- Play and stay in the mountains of eastern Nevada
- Paid Content
Play and stay in the mountains of eastern Nevada - This couple quit the city to grow wasabi in Japan's mountainsThis couple quit the city to grow wasabi in Japan's mountains