New exhibition ‘Through Our Eyes: A Woman’s Place in Antarctica’ At Hobarts TMAG celebrated women involved in the frozen continent

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The coldest continent on the planet, Antarctica was once a forbidden place for women to explore. But a new exhibition is challenging that historical inequity and celebrating the connection women now have to the frozen continent.

Transcript

00:00Few people get the chance to experience Antarctica first hand, but for those who do, it has a

00:07profound effect.

00:10More impressive than I ever imagined.

00:12It stays with you, as they say, it gets under your skin.

00:16A new exhibition in Hobart is helping bring to life experiences of the frozen continent

00:25from the perspective of women.

00:28If we look at the history of human engagement with Antarctica, most of the stories are told

00:35by men and from a man's perspective.

00:39The first women who went south had to go as either a captain's wife or sneak onto a ship

00:45and surreptitiously gain a space to go south.

00:50The multimedia installation is called Through Our Eyes, A Woman's Place Is in Antarctica.

00:57We had to kind of invent our own place or prove ourselves in order to be accepted.

01:05This exhibition, it highlights and celebrates the professional perspectives and personal

01:11experience of women in Antarctica and working in the Antarctic sector.

01:20It features the images and voices of almost 60 women of all ages and professions who shared

01:26audio recordings of their favourite Antarctic memories.

01:30When I think about Antarctica, my mind drifts back.

01:33This incredible night sky above, you can easily forget that you're still on planet Earth.

01:37It was beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

01:41I remember walking outside.

01:43When the wind has carved waves and all the sculptures of snow.

01:45It's hard to imagine feeling more alive or vulnerable than in that moment.

01:50It's women owning their place in Antarctica and I think there's something really powerful

01:57about that, saying I have been there, I have seen this, let me tell you.

02:04It's hoped the exhibition will encourage more women to become involved in the Antarctic

02:09sector.

02:10I hope they get inspired by these, I would even say, love letters to Antarctica.

02:18The exhibition is on at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery for the next three weeks.

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