For as long as I can remember, the travel narrative surrounding Antarctica has been dominated by tales of rugged survival and hard science. We picture the early explorers, the icebreakers, and the researchers braving the harshest elements on earth. But what happens when we view the world’s most remote, fragile continent through the lens of a creative?
That’s exactly the question answered by Creative Antarctica: Australian Artists and Writers in the Far South, a breathtaking exhibition that just opened at Melbourne’s RMIT Gallery and Design Hub Gallery.
While the exhibition features historical works from early expedition figures like Frank Hurley and Douglas Mawson, what is most captivating is the contemporary vision of incredible female creatives. Artists and writers like Janet Laurence, Alison Lester, Leila Jeffreys, and Polly Stanton are actively changing the way we understand this region, translating the ice into something deeply sensory, reflective, and beautifully human.
The Transformative Power of the Ice
Contributing artist Polly Stanton recently returned from the Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship. Reflecting on the journey, she described an experience that altered her very core.
“There’s truly nothing that compares to the fellowship. It exists in a category of its own, much like Antarctica itself,” Stanton shared. “Antarctica has a way of transforming everyone who spends time there, regardless of their background or creative discipline. It strips away the non-essential and leaves you with something fundamental about your work, about yourself and about your place in the world.”
Hearing her speak about the ice stripping away the non-essential perfectly captures why so many of us are drawn to the extremes of travel. Why do we go to the edges of the earth if not to see a new landscape, and discover what remains of ourselves when the noise of life is left behind?
Antarctic Travel Narrative
Lead Curator Philip Samartzis captures why this shift in perspective is so vital right now.
“Antarctica has long been framed through the language of heroism and science,” Samartzis explains. “What this exhibition reveals is another history — one shaped by artists and writers who have listened, observed and translated the continent.”
At a time of accelerating climate change, these artists act as critical witnesses to a rapidly changing ecosystem. They bridge the gap between hard scientific data and profound human emotion, making the sheer scale and vulnerability of Antarctica tangible for those of us dreaming of the journey south.
Plan Your Visit
If a voyage to the Far South is on your travel bucket list or if you simply want to experience the magic of the ice from home soil, add this exhibition to your list.
- Exhibition: Creative Antarctica: Australian Artists and Writers in the Far South
- Where: RMIT Gallery and Design Hub Gallery, Melbourne
- When: Open now until May 2, 2026
- Cost: Free
Image Supplied: Keith Jack, Mt Erebus Ross Circa 1914 – 1917