4 December • 7 PM
Museum of Danube Swabians • Zmaj Jovina bb, Sombor
The exhibition Arctic Dreams invites viewers into the remote world of Barentsburg, a mining town on Norwegian territory inhabited predominantly by a Russian community. Swiss photographer Mario Heller documents the everyday life of this isolated settlement, where existence unfolds on the threshold between civilization and the raw force of nature.
Barentsburg is home to around 400 residents—Russian and Ukrainian miners, tourist guides, and adventurers. Heller captures this unique dynamic: while people struggle to endure the harsh, inhospitable environment, they find refuge in tradition, rituals, and collective values. Using portrait photography and personal narratives, Heller focuses on the small yet meaningful moments of togetherness in which members of this secluded community find solace and the strength to survive on the edge of the Arctic Circle, in the unforgiving conditions of the far North. Illuminated by Arctic light, the stark landscapes serve as a reminder of fundamental human impulses—to seek place, purpose, and belonging, even when circumstances are severe.
Arctic Dreams portrays the perpetual tension between a nature resistant to change and the people who must adapt to its demands. Heller offers an intimate insight into life and coexistence with nature, exploring both the fragility and the resilience of a community at the end of the world.
About the Artist
Mario Heller (1991, Switzerland) is a documentary photographer whose work explores themes of isolation, community, and nature. His projects often highlight the daily struggles and adaptations of people living in harsh and remote environments. He is a recipient of the LensCulture Critic’s Choice Award (2023) and the Swiss Press Photo Award. From 2018 to 2020, Heller worked as photo editor at the Swiss newspaper Bild am Sonntag, and since 2021 he has served as Director of Photography at the Berlin magazine LOLA, where he oversees visual storytelling and contributes to the magazine’s artistic direction.
He is a member of the prestigious agency Panos Pictures.
