About

Antarctic animation

Sea ice extent though 1991
Data source: United States Geological Survey

This is the site of my research into ways animation can be used to connect people with Antarctica's changing landscape.

Lisa Roberts, Candidate for PhD, College of Fine Arts
University of New South Wales (2007-2009)
Supervisors: Dr Simon Pockley and Hobart Hughes

GENERAL COMMENTS

Well one of the things, when I saw your website, that struck me...there were some comments on there of people actually being in the Antarctic environment and having these sort of experiences and feelings. And I have to say my first reaction was, when I arrive in the Antarctic environment, I never have that. I very rarely have time to sort of indulge in my sensibilities in a sense, because I'm involved in moderately complex drilling, and then I've got several tons worth of equipment, and thousands and thousands of parts. And going through my head, is usually, “Have I remembered this? How am I going to approach this situation? What do the maps show us about the sea ice in this area in this time of year?” It's all about getting the job done in my head, and I guess the only sense I get of... the only reaction I get to the landscape is usually that this is – this task we've set ourselves – is actually going to be a lot more difficult that we initially envisaged, 'cause this landscape is...you know, these crevasses are big, you know, this ice shelf's difficult to cross, we can't land in an area we thought we were going to land in, and having to adapt because the landscape's forcing itself onto my pre-conceived plans.

I guess I probably get most reaction if I get time when I've finished, going home, or we've been delayed somewhere, you know, and I've finished my work. And that's a nice time to reflect.

And when you look at your photographs when you come back. In many ways, that's the time when you really sort of appreciate what you've seen. And when you show your photographs to other people, and they're sort of blown away by some of the things that we've seen, and for me, you've sort of taken that in your stride as you go along. But to other people, it's really something quite extraordinary and remarkable. And you have to remember that, 'cause it is a privileged job in a way. I mean you have to work hard to get it, and do it. But it is a privilege to work in the Antarctic. I'm lucky to have had so much of my career working in such a nice environment, and not spending 2 or 3 hours a day commuting and suffering in a city, which wouldn't suit me at all.

Dominic Hodgson
British Antarctic Survey
Cambridge, 2008-04-05

Antactica as palimpsest is visible/understood/seen. Each time you collect a new story of the landscape, a new vision and understanding of Antarctica is shaped. It is not through one single image or story that the experience is understood, but through the collection, the build up, the layers, the retelling that an experience is shared - the focus shifts (none of the stories are forgotton because of the new telling) with each addition to the story being told, so the story itself becomes an experience.

Kathryn Yeo
Melbourne, 2008-05-01

You are attempting to demonstrate that no one person or even group of people can lay claim to total understanding of anything - in this case Antarctica, and largely land. What you are trying to demonstrate is that each interaction between those who are responding to an aspect of the same physical reality helps to create a new and unique 'place' each time the interaction occurs. Therefore the place can never be understood as static. Which makes your use of animation to discuss the cultural phenomenon of place and space, or should I say space becoming place, absolutely necessary. The discussion would be false without the animation.

Kathryn Yeo
Dubai, 2007-12-19

I fully believe us Taswegians understand Antarctica more simply because we're closer. If an unexpected cloud formation is on the weather map, its quite easy to see that the big white chunk down below is giving it some help. Just like the people closest to the biggest glaciers up north are the most in tune with the changes that brings about and how much they're receeding.

The dancing penguins in Happy Feet managed to get quick, decisive action to their problem in the movie. Sometimes the obvious isn't obvious enough, and extreme action is needed.

Bronwyn Burles
Launceston, Tasmania, 2008-01-10