Anne Clergue Galerie presents Stéphane Gautronneau‘s exhibition ” IMMAQA, un hiver au Groenland “ a series of photographs on the northwest coast of Greenland. This off-site exhibition will take place on Place de la République, just a few meters from the gallery.
Along the Earth’s last habitable parallel, fascinating landscapes bear witness to the singular beauty of Greenland, a territory punctuated by extreme weather. Everyone’s life is built around “IMMAQA”, a term that means “maybe, probably” in Kalaallisut. Ice and cold reign supreme, sculpting the landscape and imposing their will on the island’s inhabitants.
For eight weeks, Stéphane Gautronneau’s work was guided by these “IMMAQA”:
“I like the weather to decide my schedule. The expression “par la force des choses” takes on its full meaning. This time again, I’m stuck here for eight weeks. No one can leave or arrive in Kullorsuaq.”
Arriving by dog sled in the middle of winter, he immediately gained the respect of Kullorsuaq’s inhabitants. He then discovers this new environment that he will have to make his own, where the temperature approaches -50°C and light is available for only four hours a day.
“- Immaqa!”
That’s what Ole will say to Stéphane Gautronneau when he realizes he’s come here to photograph an iceberg caught in the pack ice, by moonlight. The initial objective of his trip was to be completed by a real journey into the heart of Inuit life. For eight weeks, the photographer documented the daily life of this remote population, whose animist traditions are crumbling. The new Inuit generation is disconnecting from its territory, reinventing itself on social networks.
The exhibition is an extract from an astonishing journey immortalized thanks to a special piece of equipment: a digital back mounted on an analog chamber.
Stéphane will be setting off on another expedition in February and March 2024 to continue documenting this ever-disappearing territory.
In partnership with MYAMO.
Stéphane Gautronneau : IMMAQA, un hiver au Groenland
Until July 9, 2023
and by appointment until September 24, by contacting Anne Clergue Galerie, T. 06 89 86 24 02.
Anne Clergue Galerie
Porte bleue
4, Place de la République
13200 Arles
www.anneclergue.fr
