IN THE LAND THAT NEVER MELTS by Jean Gaumy
Ellesmere Island. 76 ° North Latitude.
Aujuittuq, Grise Fjord.

The Vagabond is a polar ship, specially designed to sail in icy waters and extreme
conditions. Since 2000, Vagabond is a unique support of this type, a real floating base
camp for scientists in Polar Regions and zones and was the first ship to do the circum polar
navigation in 2002-2003
As part of his photographic project, Jean Gaumy, a member of Magnum Photos, left to meet
Eric and France Brossier, navigators and scientists, familiar with the polar areas. Vagabond
is actually based at north of the 76th parallel at the top Canadian Arctic, closed to Ellesmere
Fjord; Grise Fiord, the closest village is 50 km far from the boat;
Here is the exclusive testimony of John Gaumy on the daily life of a family in the far north,
questioning the original way of life of this family, precursors of a new generation of peoples
who wants to live differently, in a different world and ways;
“My intent was to create a documentary portrait of the uncommon adventure of the Brossier
family in the extreme lands of Ellesmere, in front of Thule and Greenland.
Since a few months and for the next two years, France and Eric Brossier are living on the
polar equipped yacht Vagabond, together with their children Léonie and Aurore (2 and 5
years old) and Four Eskimo dogs especially trained by the Inuit inhabitants of Grise Fjord to
protect them against white bear attacks.
The Brossier are both scientists and their living structure will welcome research teams,
coming to these remote desert lands to deal with life original and environmental issues.
In March and April 2012 I joined France, Eric and their children to witness the transition
made by sun’s reappearance after 112 long nights of total darkness.
The pictural result will offer a glimpse of the Brossier’s daily life and their relation with their
stunning surroundings, including the small village of Grise Fjord, located 50 km west to the
Vagabond.
My main focuses are the humans and their extreme living conditions, the landscapes of the
genesis, and the polar light and night.”