Sebastian Copeland is an award-winning photographer, polar explorer, and environmentalist and is considered one of the most important adventurers of our time. After beginning his career as a fashion and advertising photographer on Madison Avenue, he now dedicates himself to documenting threatened habitats—especially the Arctic. On expeditions under extreme conditions, he creates striking portraits of both icebergs and the Inuit people of Greenland, portraits that testify to their great beauty and, at the same time, their fragility.
For over 25 years, Copeland has been a defining figure in international conservation and art photography. He has been named Photographer of the Year four times by various institutions. His work is exhibited worldwide and published in renowned publications such as GEO, National Geographic, Vanity Fair, and The New York Times. He has published six books on the polar regions and is a sought-after speaker at institutions such as the United Nations, COP21 in Paris, and TEDx. What is particularly impressive is how his photographs were created: he led 27 polar expeditions, covering over 12,000 km on skis. Among other achievements, he traversed Antarctica from coast to coast, a distance of over 4,100 kilometers. On his travels through the polar regions, Copeland has been exposed to extreme conditions—crevasses, encounters with polar bears, and temperatures as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius are part of his daily life. He consciously accepts this primeval and awe-inspiring nature. He sees himself as an ambassador for a world of breathtaking beauty that is simultaneously increasingly threatened. Few people get a glimpse of this fragility. All the more reason for Copeland to capture these fleeting moments photographically and make them accessible to a wider audience. "Helping people fall in love with this world," says Copeland, "is a catalyst for the desire to protect it." Because, "when nature speaks and we don't listen, photography lets us hear with our eyes."
The exhibition at the House of Photography, spanning three floors, explores the Greenlandic Arctic through Copeland’s lens. Sixty-seven photographs and several films offer striking perspectives on the beauty and vulnerability of this unique natural environment and its inhabitants. Copeland masterfully bridges the gap between the real, ephemeral landscape and the viewer's perception. His images captivate viewers—touching them, fascinating them, and leaving a lasting impression. The power and beauty of Greenland's icy world are truly irresistible.

Website
ipfo.ch/

Where
Haus der Fotografie
Kirchgasse 10
4600 Olten

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