CRISTIAN BARNETT

About

Life on the line is a collection of unique portraits connecting and celebrating life along the Arctic Circle by photographer Cristian Barnett. The project came about after he became intrigued by the arctic circle - a mysterious line that dissects apparently vast empty spaces. An invisible line of latitude 66 degrees and 33 minutes north of the Equator, the Arctic Circle intersects eight countries and is home to a rich diversity of people for whom the sun never sets in high summer, nor rises in deepest winter. Since 2006 the artist has made 13 trips in the Arctic, shooting in some twenty-three cities, towns and remote villages. Most of the portraits were photographed as close as humanly possible to the Arctic Circle, however some of the people and landscapes encountered were so extraordinary that he extended his remit to include them. However, no portrait has been taken further than 35 miles (50km) from the Arctic Circle. The artist describes it as an honour to spend time among so many Arctic people - the Gwichin, Saami, Khanti, Nenets, Evenks, Yakuts and Inuit - and clearly the Arctic Circle is much more than snow and polar bears. There are many thriving modern settlements where you are more likely to meet a hairdresser than a reindeer herder. There is much more diversity to life here than one might imagine.