Tales and daily lives in the frosty expanses of Russia's remote north regions, eternally preserved.
Reimagined Narrative:
.Chasing the Arctic Whispers:
Growing up in the far-flung reaches of Tiksi, Siberia, under the watchful gaze of the aurora borealis, sparked a lifelong obsession with the Arctic within me. The polar night, two long, dark months, transformed this winter wonderland into something more—a mental state of isolation, a solitude that fueled my creativity. Adrift in a sea of unending cold, I craved the wild charm of the north, longing for its silent, thought-provoking remoteness.
My Hometown in Silhouette:
Tiksi, a quaint seaport nestled on the Laptev Sea’s frigid shores, was my first taste of the Arctic. I wandered its frozen countryside, the northern lights my constant companion on the trek to school amidst the polar night. The town, with its tarpaulin-clad men reminiscent of the Soviet era, whispered tales of adventure and exploration in my ear, urging me to venture further.
In Search of a Dream:
I found quiet solace in Vyacheslav Korotki, a polyarnik, living at the edge of the Barents Sea. His imagination, like the wind, was boundless—imprisoned in his firm, unyielding icebound fortress. He was a relic of the past, a guardian of the Arctic’s secrets, speaking to the void through a crackling radio, awaiting a listener he would never know.
One day, during a chaotic polar night, I sought refuge in his company. Swaddled in tales of the Northern Lights and thin ice covering the sea, I yearned to recapture the magic I had lost in self-reflection. Korotki — grizzled by the elements, yet radiant with a timeless wisdom—awakened something dormant within me. I vowed to embrace the outside world, to see beyond the self.
The Arctic’s Dreamers:
The Arctic’s allure is not exclusive to its breathtaking landscapes—it also ensures that each resident has a unique dream or story to share. From the hermit adrift in his icy vessel to the young couple adapting to solitude, every being living in this desolate land sought their place here for a reason.
The will to survive transcended the harsh conditions—for more than 300 Chukchi living in the remote village of Enurmino, harkening back to ancient myths proved vital. Their resilience was a testament to the human spirit, their traditions paving a path through the perilous vastness of snow and ice.
Explore our podcast “Overheard” listen now on Apple Podcasts to hear more about life under the aurora borealis.
An Evolving Arctic:
The Arctic has always been synonymous with isolation, making its inhabitants reindeer herders and walrus hunters indomitable in spirit. However, rapid climate change is ushering in an era of new challenges—the once rugged landscape is slowly yielding to the encroachment of humanity.
The Price of Progress:
The burgeoning town of Dikson, on the shores of the Kara Sea, stands as a testament to human endeavor and the fallacy of progress. In its heyday, Dikson was hailed as the capital of the Russian Arctic, a symbol of Soviet power. Post the Soviet Union’s dissolution, the town morphed into a silent specter, its future obscured by the lingering chill of history.
My photographs of Dikson sought to capture its echoing beauty, to preserve the memory of its spectral grandeur. But amidst the frozen silence, I found a sense of loss—the passage of time had unraveled the tapestry of my dreams, replacing them with ugly reminders of humanity's fleeting, ephemeral dominion.
Evgenia Arbugaeva*the Indonesian butterfly trade, our websiteDecember 2020 issue, our website
- In pursuit of untold stories, I delved into travel photography, capturing the history and lifestyle of the Arctic community, unveiling a portrait of resilience and adaptation against the backdrop of the changing environment.
- My wanderlust led me to the realm of home-and-garden, where I discovered the symbiosis between people and nature, a snapshot of how they coexist harmoniously within the Arctic's expansive ocean.
- Beyond exploration and travel, the Arctic's grandeur stirred a fascination with photography, enabling me to express its diversity, from the vivid oceanography to the striking home designs that nestle among the ice floes.
- At every corner, the Arctic communities echo with tales of tradition and history, instilling a sense of pride and identity in the people, marking their indelible presence amidst the eternal human-environment interaction.
- As a photographer, documenting the evolution of the Arctic has been a journey of self-discovery, illuminating the external world while questioning the essence of a home amidst the shifting climate and human impact.
