18 September
2006 - An exhibition showing an extraordinary
side of the Australian Antarctic Territory has
been opened at Parliament House in Canberra.
The photographs show a side
of Antarctica rarely seen by the general public.
“Few people in the community
have the opportunity to visit Antarctica. A small
number of artists, photographers and writers visit
Australia’s Antarctic Territory each year through
the Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowships but
usually their stay is short and their opportunities
limited by the incredible harshness of the environment”,
Minister for the Environment and Heritage Senator
Ian Campbell Senator Campbell said.
“Most of the imagery comes from
the scientists and the technical people who live
and work there. It’s the people on our stations,
research ships and remote field locations who
get the best opportunities to witness and photograph
the spectacular southern lights or aurora australis;
the amazing Antarctic wildlife and the intense
colours of Antarctic sunsets.”
This continues a long tradition
of capturing Antarctica in pictures, dating back
to Captain Cook’s time when watercolour and rough
pencil and ink drawings were the only available
medium.
“Antarctic photography became
very significant when the promise of film of this
remote and mysterious part of the world, particularly
through the lenses of Frank Hurley, helped finance
the early scientific expeditions of Mawson and
Shackleton.
“We still rely heavily on photographs
from our Antarctic expeditioners and scientists
- the people who are in close contact with the
animals and the environment – to tell the story
of Antarctica and its environmental and scientific
significance to the world.
“They play a very important
role in promoting the work of the Australian Government
Antarctic Division, not only through their leading
edge scientific and technical pursuits, but through
their cameras.”
Senator Campbell said the Australian
Government’s $46.3 million 2005 Budget initiative
to introduce a landmark Antarctic airlink to support
Australia’s Antarctic programme would bring new
opportunities to extend our involvement with Antarctica,
with regular flights to begin in the 2007/2008
season.
“Once again we will be relying
on photographers and filmmakers to bring this
exciting new chapter in our history to the world,”
Senator Campbell said.
Images from the exhibition are
available for viewing on the Australian Government
Antarctic Division’s website www.aad.gov.au. The
exhibition is on display at Parliament House until
4 October.
Rob Broadfield
