Ice Spider

Ice Spider is a collaboration between Saimaiyu Akesuk (Cape Dorset, Nunavut) and Cheryl Rondeau (Toronto, Canada). Inspired by Akesuk’s iconic drawing entitled Red Spider (2014), this experimental short employs the technique of stop-motion animation while making reference to the actual behaviour of the Arctic Wolf Spider, a genus of arachnid common across the North. Climate change has resulted in larger populations and increased predatory tendencies of this carnivorous and cannibalistic spider. This sci-fi influenced short animates the growing discourse around the ecological, political and cultural future of Canada’s Arctic. Background imagery was shot on location in Cape Dorset, Nunavut.

Director

Saimaiyu Akesuk

Director

Cheryl Rondeau