I’ve been asked to write my talk for Sur Polar for translation into Spanish, so that the translator can prepare. I’ve written what I’ll say, but will mainly talk informally, to projected images and animations.
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This is the formal part:
Antarctic Animation:
overview of an arts-based inquiry
My research is concerned with the profound connections made by some to the Antarctic landscape. In dialogue with expeditioners, scientists and other artists, these connections are revealed through making objects and animations.
To begin, I will define some of the terms used in this work:
Animate – to bring to life, to inspire, our idea of Antarctic landscape
Landscape – internal, intellectually and emotionally understood; External, physically and socially experienced
Antarctic texts – scientific documents and artistic works, expressing observations and responses
Gesture – to physically move, as the impetus for making drawings, objects and animations, in response to Antarctic texts
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The following lines of thought guide this inquiry, and offer a brief overview of its purpose, methods and anticipated outcomes:
Antarctic landscape holds a repository of evidence of past and present changes in its nature.
Antarctic texts document changes measured, and express human responses to being there.
Antarctic experiences can change people.
There is a link between living in close quarters in a remote and hostile place, and growing mindful of the impact of our actions – upon ourselves, each other, and the environment.
The fear that some hold of Antarctica’s remoteness and hostility can close their minds to knowing it.
Ice and water can be read as metaphors for self-reflection.
We can respond to Antarctic texts through gestures, with which to make drawings, objects and animations.
Movement and dance can transform us.
As the visual language of change, animation can be transformative.
Constructing landscapes in response to Antarctic texts can help us visualise within it, to connect it with our own landscape experiences.
Engaging with moments of reflection on its landscape can cut through the fear that some feel about Antarctica.
Through animations of Antarctic landscapes, which are informed by dialogues with expeditioners, and artists, we can grow to understand more of the hard facts embedded in its ice.