Elias Neil Benleulmi, “Through the last Ice”
Elias Neil Benleulmi will present “Through the last Ice” at the Spéos Gallery, 7 rue Jules Vallès, 75011 Paris, from October 1st, 2024, to January 25th, 2025.
Opening of the exhibition: Tuesday 1st of October, 2024, from 6pm to 9pm. Free entrance.
In the heart of the frozen lands of Svalbard, Elias Neil embarked on a photographic journey to capture one of our planet’s last natural sanctuaries.
Svalbard, located in the high Arctic, is home to a unique biodiversity, perfectly adapted to an extreme and ever-changing environment. Through these images, he aims to present these majestic creatures in all their glory, capturing intimate and contemplative moments of their existence. Each of these images serves as an invitation to reflect on the fragility of these unique ecosystems, as they grapple with the challenges posed by climate change and humans.
“It is crucial to give a voice to these magnificent yet vulnerable animals that are at the heart of our planet’s future. The Arctic ice is melting at an alarming rate, threatening the survival of these iconic species. Through “positive images” I hope to raise awareness of the urgency of preserving these fragile environments.”
Passionate about animals since his early childhood, it was the great white sharks that awakened Elias Neil‘s interest in biology, even before he entered primary school.
Raised in 3 countries (France, Singapore, Canada) and inspired by the adventure stories of Jules Verne, Elias has always wanted to work in close contact with animals.
In 2016, during a road trip across Canada (from Trois-Rivières to Tofino, Vancouver Island), Elias discovered his totem animal in the northern hemisphere: the wolverine. An animal revered in indigenous art, which has greatly influenced his creative eye.
Now working as an Arctic guide and as a photographer published in the international press, Elias is represented by the agency SIPA PRESS. Elias is a Spéos 2021 graduate from the from the Entrepreneurial Photographer Program in 2 years, specializing in photo reportage.
