Behind The Ice Gate

Beskrivelse

Discover the story of Ilimanaq, a historic village near the Ice Fjord in Disco Bay, Greenland, captured through the lens of photographer Henrik Saxgren. This book explores the challenges and resilience of one of Greenland’s oldest settlements.

An intimate look at the village of Ilimanaq and its struggle for survival amidst changing times.

Behind the ice gate lies Ilimanaq, a village situated close to the mouth of the Ice Fjord in Disco Bay. This area has been an Inuit summer settlement since ancient times. However, the arrival of Dutch whalers and Danish missionaries in the 18th century transformed Ilimanaq into a recognized village, which the Dutch named Claushavn.

Since then, Ilimanaq (also known as Claushavn) has remained a lively community, gradually welcoming residents from smaller neighboring villages as they were abandoned. Today, Ilimanaq itself faces the challenge of survival. With the closure of the fish factory, the population has dwindled to around fifty inhabitants.

Both private and public organizations are now working hard to combat this decline. But the question remains: will their efforts be enough to save this historic village? What is daily life like in one of Greenland’s oldest communities when its future is uncertain?

Renowned Danish photographer and author Henrik Saxgren has visited Ilimanaq across different seasons, creating a vivid portrait of the village, its bay, and the fjord.

Yderligere information