Opening on 14 December 2025 at 11 a.m. – at the North America Native Museum in Zurich, Switzerland.
Swiss photographer Markus Bühler presents the exhibition “At the Edge of the Ice – Travelling in Northern Greenland”at the North America Native Museum in Zurich, in collaboration with his son, young filmmaker Nils Bühler. The exhibition invites visitors on a fascinating journey into the homeland of the Inuit and their culture in transition.
The special exhibition “At the Edge of the Ice” focuses on the 600-strong community of Qaanaaq, one of the northernmost settlements on Earth. Here, where the sea ice melts earlier every year, hunting remains a central element of culture and identity. Yet the Inuit’s living environment is changing, and with it the challenges of daily life. The exhibition shows Inuit hunters on the sea ice, in an environment that has become unpredictable.
Markus Bühler has accompanied the people of Qaanaaq for many years – his photographs are the result of long-standing personal relationships.
Two generations – one project
In spring 2025, Markus Bühler visited Northern Greenland for the thirteenth time. He was joined by his 19-year-old son Nils, equipped with a film camera. The result is an interplay of photography and film, uniting two generations of observers.
While Markus Bühler can draw on decades of experience, Nils discovers the North through the eyes of a young filmmaker, for whom every step is new and every shot a first.
Whale hunting by kayak
Whale hunting in Northern Greenland is traditional and regulated. Only kayaks and harpoons are permitted. Together with the hunters, Markus and Nils Bühler travel by dog sled across the frozen sea, spend bright nights under the Arctic sky, and share long hours of waiting at the ice edge. They recount the traditional whale hunt, brittle ice, and young hunters developing a renewed awareness of their culture.
Images of a culture in transition
“At the Edge of the Ice” tells, in striking images, of adaptation and perseverance, and of knowledge passed down through generations. Central to the exhibition is 15-year-old Jonas, who wants to become a hunter. The exhibition follows him during seal and whale hunts and raises awareness for the Inuit’s living realities. Climate change, hunting quotas and import bans pose enormous challenges.
Exhibition information
Sunday, 14 December 2025 to Sunday, 28 June 2026
Opening: Sunday, 14 December, 11 a.m.
Arctic Day: Sunday, 1 February 2026, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Guided tours and supporting programme: Agenda | North America Native Museum Zurich
High-resolution images for download: Media | North America Native Museum Zurich