3 questions for Nicolas Vanier

The man who made the North Pole his muse

Despite being born in southern climes, in Senegal to be exact, Nicolas Vanier adores the frozen north. The adventurer, writer and film-maker has made the Arctic his chosen field for exploration and the nexus of his thinking. He has conducted some twenty expeditions and made as many films both revealing the region’s incredible riches and promoting a “positive” vision for ecology.

What does the Arctic mean to you?

Nicolas Vanier: Many people see the Arctic as the equivalent of a vicious dog that is liable to bite. But for those who know how to approach it with respect and humility, this part of the world, its lights, its changing moods and its people are all fascinating. It would never occur to me travel through a country or a region without meeting the people who live there and can tell me about it and teach me. Every journey, encounter and new emotion will likely inspire a story, but that’s not something you can choose in advance, thankfully. That’s the thing about a journey where not everything is planned in advance.

Is it fair to say this corner of the world never ceases to inspire you?

Nicolas Vanier: Yes. It exerts a fascination that everyone can feel. It never leaves you indifferent. Greenland, for example, like many places in the Arctic, is a land whose arid nature actually gives it an incredible diversity that anyone who makes the trip can see, and this becomes all the more visible in summer when nature bursts into life. I’m a dedicated traveller and I’m crazy about nature and the northern countries. It’s a love that I’ve tried to share through stories and images, in the hope of inspiring people to love it too and perhaps even to want to protect it.

Do you mean protecting it by raising public awareness and sharing your vision for joyful ecology?

Nicolas Vanier: Yes. The world is being turned upside down. We can all see this today in the many ways the climate is changing, and the fact these problems are increasing exponentially is worrying. Visiting the north, which is more vulnerable than anywhere on the planet, can only imbue you with a deep sense of respect. Taking action doesn’t have to mean proscribing or restricting things or punishing people, as some “urban ecologists” like to describe it all too often in my view. They know nothing about nature and don’t necessarily inspire us to take action with their anxiety-provoking rhetoric. There is a joyful way to make a difference. I can say for sure that the climate change which is affecting this fragile and enchanting region is redoubling my determination to sound the alarm so that we can all take action.

Photos credits: ©DR

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