Basia Bogacka Photography
Edinburgh Photographic Society, 8 - 31 August 2026
Reflections on Impermanence
From aerial views of glaciers to intimate close-ups of floating ice, this exhibition reveals the beauty and austerity of the Arctic in its continual transformation. In recent years, during several photographic journeys to Greenland and Svalbard, I experienced a profound sense of awe and reverence for nature. I remember the feeling of gratitude and privilege of being in these extraordinary places. They gave me a deeper perspective on what truly matters and helped me see beauty in transience and renewal. I remember moments of intense quiet and peace in this vast wilderness, of feeling welcomed as a part of it - a tiny, joyful presence in an immense landscape. These are moments to cherish.
I remember the colours of the ice changing with the light, from grey-green to turquoise, with every shade of blue in between. I remember the snow shifting from cool blue in the morning to warm gold and soft pink in the evening. I remember the sky changing from clear, brilliant blue with a low sun and long shadows to milky white in dense fog, or almost black above dark water and beneath heavy clouds. I remember the calm sea reflecting snow-covered mountains, only to become rough and stormy, before falling quiet once again. But I also remember a deep sadness, knowing that there are changes on a different scale - changes that do not follow a natural cycle and may be irreversible.
If this exhibition encourages reflection on these changes and care about the choices we make each day to protect the natural world, it will be the greatest success I could hope for.
Reflections on Impermanence
From aerial views of glaciers to intimate close-ups of floating ice, this exhibition reveals the beauty and austerity of the Arctic in its continual transformation. In recent years, during several photographic journeys to Greenland and Svalbard, I experienced a profound sense of awe and reverence for nature. I remember the feeling of gratitude and privilege of being in these extraordinary places. They gave me a deeper perspective on what truly matters and helped me see beauty in transience and renewal. I remember moments of intense quiet and peace in this vast wilderness, of feeling welcomed as a part of it - a tiny, joyful presence in an immense landscape. These are moments to cherish.
I remember the colours of the ice changing with the light, from grey-green to turquoise, with every shade of blue in between. I remember the snow shifting from cool blue in the morning to warm gold and soft pink in the evening. I remember the sky changing from clear, brilliant blue with a low sun and long shadows to milky white in dense fog, or almost black above dark water and beneath heavy clouds. I remember the calm sea reflecting snow-covered mountains, only to become rough and stormy, before falling quiet once again. But I also remember a deep sadness, knowing that there are changes on a different scale - changes that do not follow a natural cycle and may be irreversible.
If this exhibition encourages reflection on these changes and care about the choices we make each day to protect the natural world, it will be the greatest success I could hope for.
© Basia Bogacka