EMILE HOLBA

WORKS ABOUT

Arktisk Grenseland

As a younger self looking through copies of National Geographic, I was always captivated by stories about the Arctic, particularly its remoteness, challenging weather, rapid seasonal changes, and mysterious sunlight. One area that seemed particularly distant from my teenage years in Stevenage was the Barents Sea. During the Tsarist era, its currents facilitated prosperous trading routes between Tsarist Russia and western countries. However, during the Cold War, it transformed into a perfect propaganda tool and strategic military playground.

A generation later, with my dreams fulfilled, I found myself chronicling a captivating landscape called Varanger. This place feels discreetly separate from our increasingly fragmented world, comfortably situated above the 70th parallel north.

Unlike the tourist-flooded fjords and over-Instagrammed waterfalls of other regions, Varanger is a quiet and peaceful peninsula located at the far eastern end of Troms og Finnmark fylke in Northern Norway. It shares borders with Finland and Russia, offering a sparsely populated and expansive area of wild terrain encircled by chilly waters. Ancient rock strata and resilient flora support resourceful, modern-day communities who proudly embrace their local heritage and confident citizenship, while striking a seemingly ideal work-life balance.

Spanning four distinct seasons, this gallery offers a glimpse into a rugged yet tranquil existence. Welcome to Arktisk Grenseland.

Arktisk Grenseland is available as Field Notes 015 at Another Place Press.