10 perspectives that tell the story of our voyages

It wasn’t an easy choice... To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we invite you to rediscover 10 of the artists who have left their mark on our story!

Since its beginnings, Latitude Blanche has given artist residencies a special place. Photographers, painters, writers, musicians and illustrators come aboard Polarfront to cast a sensitive, original eye on the polar world, life at sea and the human adventure. Through their works, exhibitions, concerts and talks, they extend the experience of the voyage and invite others to discover these lands differently. By blending creation, exploration and sharing, these artistic encounters have become an essential part of Latitude Blanche’s identity.

Alongside them, many guests have also helped tell the story of our voyages, sharing their photographs and sensitively capturing the magic of these timeless moments.

All of them have carried the experience of the voyage far beyond the expedition itself and enriched Latitude Blanche’s collective memory. Their creativity and passion are an integral part of our company’s soul. Thank you to them for bringing this human and artistic adventure to life and helping it shine alongside us.

ELSA GUILLAUME

Passionate about the ocean and the deep sea, Elsa Guillaume was the first artist to come aboard Polarfront for an artist residency.

In October 2018, she joined a Winter magic voyage in northern Norway. This immersion in polar landscapes deeply nourished her work and gave rise to a beautiful travel journal, in which drawings, sketches and watercolors sensitively capture the light, the atmospheres and the emotions she experienced over the course of the expedition.

A visual artist with a delicate eye, Elsa draws her inspiration from the marine world, wide-open spaces and living things. Her poetic universe, steeped in contemplation and curiosity, echoes the fragile beauty of the polar regions. Her residency marked the beginning of a wonderful artistic adventure aboard Polarfront, paving the way for the many other artists who have since come to share their vision of these exceptional places.

Discover her travel journal

MICKAËL PERALTA

With no fewer than seven residencies on board, Mickaël has become a true regular of the Far North. He has sailed with us so often that Polarfront has almost become his second home!

A photographer whose eye is always on the alert, he has the rare gift of reinventing himself on every voyage. Season after season, he keeps surprising us with ever more striking images, capturing the light, the landscapes and the polar wildlife with remarkable sensitivity.

We admire the quality of his work as much as his personal qualities. His availability, his infectious good humor and his generosity make each of his residencies a real pleasure to share. It is always a joy to welcome him aboard.

For photography enthusiasts, next December Mickaël will accompany an exceptional photo voyage in Norway, devoted to two wonders of the Far North: the northern lights and cetaceans. Drawing on his experience and his artistic eye, he will share his tips and expertise to help participants capture all the magic of these encounters and this unique light. We are delighted to continue this wonderful collaboration and can’t wait to share this new adventure with him!

Learn more

THYLACINE

Thylacine was born in 2012 when William Rezé, after training in classical music at the conservatory, chose to turn to electronic music to break free from traditional codes and explore greater creative freedom. Close to artists such as Fakear and Superpoze, he also draws inspiration from bands such as Massive Attack, Four Tet and Moderat. His musical universe, at once powerful, organic and deeply emotional, blends mesmerizing rhythms, sonic textures and cinematic melodies.

For Thylacine, travel is an essential source of inspiration. Having recorded his first albums in Russia, Argentina and Iceland, he continues his quest for new horizons through music that invites escape. His album Timeless revisits works by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Satie, offering a bold, contemporary take on these great classics.

In December 2021, we had the privilege of welcoming him aboard Polarfront, amid Norway’s winter landscapes. From this expedition came Polar, a mesmerizing track inspired by the light, the silence and the power of the Far North. The footage shot during the voyage extends the experience, capturing all the wild beauty of the polar regions and the chemistry between music and exploration.

In the program SÉQUENCES, broadcast on France Télévisions on October 25, 2022, Thylacine looked back on how Polar came about and on the technical challenges of recording it aboard Polarfront:

“To record the whales, I had two hydrophones to get stereo sound, whereas most recordings are made in mono. Since we have two ears, I thought it would be interesting to recreate that perception. The hardest part wasn’t finding the whales or recording them, but capturing their vocalizations without the noise of the human presence around them.”

His account made us fully aware of the acoustic impact of Polarfront’s former propulsion system on the marine environment.

This realization strengthened our determination to pursue our environmental commitment. The ship’s repowering with electric propulsion, combined with a new propeller inspired by those used on submarines, has dramatically reduced vibrations and underwater noise. It is a major step forward in protecting wildlife that is particularly sensitive to noise, especially whales, whose communication and movements rely largely on sound.

Discover (or rediscover) Polar

CÉCILE FOUILLADE - SIQOU PORCELAIN

“Porcelain is a vast white continent, both delicate and temperamental. It cracks, warps and sometimes breaks. It is a landscape that is forever questioning itself. For me, it is where fire meets cold...”

Passionate about the polar regions since 2016, Cécile Fouillade, whose studio name is Siqou (inspired by the word “Siku,” meaning sea ice in Kalaallisut, the language of Greenland), seeks to create a cold ceramic universe that is both delicate and powerful.

“During my artist residency aboard Polarfront in December 2021, in the heart of the polar night in the Lofoten Islands, I discovered a wild and fascinating land, rich in animal life. The experience allowed me to observe several of the region’s iconic species, such as orcas and humpback whales, but also animals tied to local traditions, such as goats, sheep and domesticated reindeer. Visiting the Norwegian farm Aalan gård was a very inspiring moment. I was fascinated by the rich textures of the wool and fleeces of the Norwegian goats and sheep I saw there. I then set out to translate these sensations into porcelain, a delicate mineral material, exploring the contrast between the organic softness of wool and the cold whiteness of ceramics. This research gave rise to a first series of vases covered in a new porcelain wool texture, called Ull (“wool” in Norwegian). Encountering orcas in the waters of the Lofoten Islands also left a deep mark on my imagination and opened up a new line of research around their silhouette, their markings and their presence, which I hope to develop soon through larger-scale sculptural works.”

Discover the delicacy of her work

ENEOUR LEOST

The youngest artist ever to sail with us, he already impresses with the maturity of his eye and the breadth of his talent.

A true virtuoso of video, he takes us on a journey with each of his creations. His film shot in Spitsbergen in summer 2024 still amazes us and plunges us back into the magic of the Arctic.

We can’t wait to see his new footage, shot during his time aboard in Spitsbergen in spring 2026 and in Greenland this summer, which already promises to be exceptional.

Give yourself five minutes. Get comfortable… and let the images carry you away ⤵️

This way!

PASSENGERS OF SCIENCE

This residency had a very special dimension: it was an educational residency.

In April 2022, in Spitsbergen, we welcomed two teachers aboard Polarfront, Francine Brondex and Éric Bataillou, as part of an educational project run throughout the 2021–2022 school year with students from preschool through high school.

The project had two main educational goals:

• Following in the footsteps of the great explorers while meeting today’s scientists, to better understand what is at stake in polar research.
• Introducing students to the Arctic and its exceptional biodiversity, while raising their awareness of the effects of climate change and the environmental challenges facing the region.

Learn more about this fascinating project

JEHANNE BEROUD

Jehanne is a painter, and also the wife of Polarfront’s captain.

During a residency on board, we had the pleasure of discovering her delicate artistic universe, especially through her beautiful watercolors inspired by polar landscapes.

She has also created a polar coloring book for younger readers. It lets children extend the adventure by discovering the wildlife, the landscapes and the fascinating world of the polar regions in a fun and creative way. It makes a lovely souvenir to bring home to your children or grandchildren and keep the magic of the voyage alive.

Discover her work

LOUISE GABRIEL

Louise Gabriel is a writer. She draws her inspiration from observing the here and contemplating the elsewhere.

After her writing residency, Louise wrote a novel set aboard Polarfront. The story, titled La femme sans visage et le carnet sans nom (“The faceless woman and the nameless notebook”), draws on that immersive experience.

Here it is in a nutshell:

During the expedition along the Lofoten Islands up to Tromsø, mysteries begin to surface that intrigue the narrator. There is the old travel journal she finds in her cabin. Page after page, she discovers notes and drawings. Who wrote it? An explorer of the Far North? What was he doing on the ship?

The second mystery: a female figure she glimpses several times in the passageway, who belongs neither to the group of travelers nor to the crew. Who is she? Where does she sleep? Why does she disappear?

In search of answers to these mysteries, the narrator roams Polarfront, which remains the main character and is called the Convergence in the novel.

The novel is due out soon, and we will let you know when it is released. In the meantime, stay tuned!

Discover her other books

JEAN-PHILIPPE LE BRIGANT

Jean-Philippe is a bit of a special case, since he did not come aboard as part of an artist residency. Polarfront’s permanent chief engineer, he is first and foremost an exemplary member of our crew, recognized for his great professional and personal qualities. Over his time on board, he has also revealed a real artistic talent through two videos he made aboard the ship. His sensitive, singular eye offers us another way of seeing the magic of our voyages, this time through the eyes of the people who make them possible every day.

Treat yourself to a few minutes’ break and come aboard with us for two destinations:

Norway

Spitsbergen

RAYANN ELZEIN

Passionate about the polar worlds, Rayann has been traveling the Arctic for several years on photo assignments. A true northern lights hunter, he has made this natural phenomenon one of his favorite subjects.

He began his journey aboard Polarfront in Spitsbergen, sailing with us several times as an artist in residence. He then joined our first photo voyage in Norway as photographer guide. After further training, he became a naturalist guide and now puts his two passions — photography and the polar regions — at the service of travelers.

Passionate, a born teacher and a person of great warmth, Rayann is a particularly popular naturalist guide. His enthusiasm, his knowledge of the terrain and his ability to share his sense of wonder win over every traveler lucky enough to sail with him.

Discover his work