Janet Laurence in the studio Photograph Felicity Jenkins
Australian Antarctic Division + ANAT Arts Fellowship
2020/21 Australian Antarctic Arts Fellow :: Janet Laurence
Congratulations to Janet Laurence who has been awarded the 2020/21 Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship.
Janet will spend time at Australia’s Casey research station to develop an immersive installation. The proposed installation will be based on extensive on-site research, including photographs, video works, drawings, watercolours, and collected writings on the Antarctic landscape and Casey station. “My aim for the project is to bring back a captivating experience of Antarctica’s preciousness and power to those that have never been,” said Ms Laurence. “I have expectations, and yet I know that the actual experience of Antarctica will open up unknown and far-reaching possibilities.”
The Antarctic Arts Division and ANAT are also excited to support a second project by sound artist Dr Philip Samartzis to produce a series of high-resolution sound recordings of Mawson station and Australia’s new icebreaker RSV Nuyina to complete a sound map of the Australian Antarctic Territory. The map expands on his work produced over two Antarctic Arts Fellowships (2010, 2016) where sound recordings were made of Casey, Davis and Macquarie Island stations, and RSV Aurora Australis. The completed sound map will span 12 years and will demonstrate how the Australian Antarctic Territory has been transformed through the introduction of new technologies, transport and building projects, as well as shifts in climate and weather due to anthropogenic change.
Ms Laurence and Dr Samartzis will travel to the icy continent during the 2021/22 season.
The Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship has been running since 1984 and is supported by the Australian Antarctic Division with additional support provided by ANAT since 2017.