Residents visit Bjørndalen to observe Svalbard Reindeer

Before departing Longyearbyen, current residents Celine Charveriat and Soghra Khurasani joined Residency & Community Coordinator Sally Hovelsø for a trip to Bjørndalen, one of the most accessible locations to observe Svalbard reindeer in their natural habitat.

For Charveriat, the visit provided a valuable opportunity to spend time observing the animals that form a central focus of her residency project, Noah’s Ark 2.0: Imagineering Just Coadaptation in Svalbard. Developed through her initiative Pro(to)topia, the project explores what climate adaptation might look like if the needs of reindeer, tundra ecosystems, and other more-than-human beings were considered alongside those of humans.

Alongside opportunities for focused research and artistic development, excursions such as these allow residents to experience Svalbard beyond Longyearbyen, encounter the region’s unique wildlife and landscapes, and deepen their understanding of the social and ecological systems that shape life in the High Arctic.

We wish Celine all the best as she continues developing the project beyond Svalbard and thank her for her time with us at Artica.