ABSTRACT
Landscapes of Exploration, British Art from Antarctica, curated by Liz Wells, was commissioned by the Levinsky Gallery, University of Plymouth (UK tour, 2012–15), to mark the centenary of the death in 1912 of the Plymouth-born explorer Robert Falcon Scott. Written for the exhibition-linked publication, along with a contribution by the former scientist at the British Antarctic Survey who co-ordinated the Antarctic artist residency scheme 2001–9, it forms an afterword for projects by ten visual artists, one musician and three writers. Drawing on interviews with the artists, it examines their various experiences of residency-based project development including opportunities to contribute and benefit from skills and knowledge on the part of others at the British Antarctic bases. Through reference to Walter Benjamin’s ‘Work of Art’ essay, it points to the value of trans-disciplinary perceptions and collaborations.
