The New Zealand Maritime Museum’s newest exhibition, Into Ocean & Ice, invites visitors on a journey into the remote realms of Antarctica and South Georgia.
Through the work of five artists, the exhibition captures the beauty and harshness of the Antarctic while reflecting on the legacy of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1914–1917 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition.
Four emerging New Zealand artists — Tegan Allpress, Peregrin Hyde, Rose Lasham, and Charlie Thomas — present unique interpretations of South Georgia, which they visited in 2023 as part of the Antarctic Heritage Trust’s Inspiring Explorers Expedition™.
Their journey coincided with the centenary of Shackleton’s final polar expedition, during which he passed away on South Georgia Island.
Through photography, painting, illustration, and ceramics their artwork explores the immensity of this wildlife-rich gateway to Antarctica: its 160 glaciers, diverse wildlife, and unique beauty.
Their creations reflect both the awe of this environment and its fragility, home to thousands of fur and elephant seals, a staggering 900,000 king penguins, and nearly fifty bird species.
Italian painter, Paola Folicaldi Suh, offers a powerful tribute to Shackleton’s legendary Endurance expedition. Her inspiration comes from the historic photographs of Frank Hurley, an
Australian photographer who documented Shackleton’s voyage and crew.
In 1914, shortly after entering the Weddell Sea with 28 men, 69 dogs, and one tomcat, the ship was beset in pack ice, crushed by the pressure, and sank.
Among other feats, Shackleton stumbled for 36 hours straight with two crewmates across the unmapped glaciers and mountain-peaks of South Georgia to get help and rescued all his men. Folicaldi Suh’s dramatic large-scale paintings immerse viewers in this epic story of survival and resilience.
Into Ocean & Ice opens on November 29, 2024 and runs until August 31, 2025 at the New Zealand Maritime Museum. Entry is included with museum admission, and the museum is free for Auckland residents.
For more information please visit www.maritimemuseum.co.nz.
