Carousel slide 1 imageArtists Explore a Changing Antarctica
Take a trip to Antarctica through the exhibition Into Ocean & Ice. Five artists interpret the remote cool South, taking in Ernest Shackleton’s failed yet epic Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914-1917) to the Weddell and Ross seas, and modern-day South Georgia in the South Atlantic Ocean, where the climate crisis has glaciers on the run and biodiversity experts worried.
Into Ocean & Ice showcases the work of four emerging Aotearoa artists—Tegan Allpress (Rongowhakaata), Peregrin Hyde (Ngāti Maniapoto), Rose Lasham, and Charlie Thomas—who journeyed to South Georgia in 2023 with the Antarctic Heritage Trust's Inspiring Explorers Expedition™, to honour the centenary year of Shackleton’s final polar expedition on which he died. Through photography, paintings, illustrations, ceramics and interactive elements, their artwork explores the immensity of this wildlife-rich gateway to Antarctica.
Meanwhile in another hemisphere, Italian painter Paola Folicaldi Suh found inspiration in photos by Frank Hurley, the photographer who documented Shackleton's Endurance voyage. In 1914, trapped in pack ice, the ship sank, yet Shackleton's heroic 36-hour trek over South Georgia’s glaciers ensured his crew’s survival. Folicaldi Suh’s large-scale paintings immerse viewers into Shackleton’s journey, offering a glimpse into this epic tale of survival.
Of Ngāti Whakaue, Rongowhakaata, Tegan is a film photographer focused on the concept of Tūrangawaewae, or "a place to stand." Specialising in film photography, her work explores Tūrangawaewae ("a place to stand"). She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (First-Class Honours) from Elam, University of Auckland. Tegan’s current project is researching the relationship between sustainability and tourism.
Charlie is a conservationist, seabird lover, and artist who has worked on remote islands, including Kure Atoll in Hawaii, where he eradicated invasive species. His watercolour art reflects his passion for wildlife and environmental restoration, especially in remote refuges like the sub-Antarctic islands.
Rose, a Fine Arts graduate, uses painting and ceramic sculpture to explore climate change and humanity's impact on nature. Her work aims to inspire environmental stewardship, with a focus on the lasting effects of human-created materials like plastic.
Peregrin Hyde (Ngāti Maniapoto) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa, with roots in Ōtautahi and whakapapa linking him through Ngāti Maniapoto to Te Rohe Pōtae and Kāwhia, as well as Scottish and English ancestry. With a background in environmental education, his visual arts encompases, microscope photography, video, music, sound design, 3D modeling, education, and jewelry-making.
An Italian painter based between Fermo, Italy, and Sigtuna, Sweden, Paola combines her background in restoration with an interest for in the world around her. Her work reflects a unique blend of historical techniques and contemporary interpretation, shaped by her studies at the Institute of Book Pathology in Rome and the Book School in Urbino.
Carousel slide 1 image©AHT/Georgina Archibald
Fri 13 Dec – Sun 15 Dec | Mon 27 Jan - Fri 31 Jan | Free, bookings required
Explore Antarctica and visit Scott's Discovery Hut through the Antarctic Heritage Trust's immersive virtual reality experience.
Antarctic Heritage Trust, a New Zealand-based non-profit, is dedicated to conserving Antarctica’s rich heritage, with a vision of Inspiring Explorers. As a global leader in cold-climate heritage, the Trust preserves five historic expedition bases and over 20,000 artefacts from early explorers like Sir Ernest Shackleton and Captain Robert Falcon Scott. Notable conservation projects have uncovered artefacts such as Shackleton’s whisky and a century-old fruitcake, bringing history to life.
Through immersive digital experiences and outreach programs, the Trust shares the legacy of exploration, while its Inspiring Explorers™ expeditions connect young people with the awe of polar exploration. The 2023 expedition to South Georgia marked the centenary of Shackleton’s final journey, creating lasting impacts for the participants and their communities. By sharing these stories, the Trust hopes to make the spirit of exploration relevant and encourage its preservation for generations to come.
Image credit: Shackleton's Nimrod hut, Cape Royds. ©AHT
