Australia’s largest Antarctic art exhibition opens at RMIT

A sweeping new exhibition exploring more than a century of Australian artistic engagement with Antarctica has opened across two major Melbourne venues.

Creative Antarctica: Australian Artists and Writers in the Far South launches at RMIT Gallery and Design Hub Gallery on February 20, bringing together historical and contemporary creatives who have shaped how the frozen continent is imagined, documented and understood.

Spanning more than 100 years, the exhibition traces the evolution of Antarctica’s cultural story – from the era of heroic exploration to today’s climate-conscious creative responses. While Antarctica is often framed through the lens of science and discovery, this exhibition foregrounds the role of artists and writers as critical witnesses to one of the world’s most remote and fragile regions.

The show features works by historically significant figures including photographer Frank Hurley, explorer Douglas Mawson, painter Sidney Nolan and artist Lin Onus, alongside leading contemporary names such as Janet Laurence, Alison Lester and Leila Jeffreys. The works range from rare archival material to new, site-responsive projects developed through time spent in Antarctica.

Contributing artist Polly Stanton, who recently returned from an Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship, described the experience as transformative.

“There’s truly nothing that compares to the fellowship. It exists in a category of its own, much like Antarctica itself,” she said.

“Antarctica has a way of transforming everyone who spends time there. It strips away the non-essential and leaves you with something fundamental about your work, about yourself and about your place in the world.”

Lead curator Philip Samartzis said the exhibition reveals an alternative Antarctic history – one shaped not just by expeditions and research stations, but by creative interpretation.

“Antarctica has long been framed through the language of heroism and science,” he said.

“What this exhibition reveals is another history – one shaped by artists and writers who have listened, observed and translated the continent in ways that are sensory, reflective and deeply human.

A key theme is the impact of the Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship, which has enabled generations of artists and writers to travel south and contribute to public understanding of the region. At a time of accelerating climate change and global environmental uncertainty, the exhibition highlights how creative responses can deepen awareness and engagement.

Presented by RMIT University as part of an Australian Research Council Discovery Project, the exhibition runs until May 2 across both RMIT Gallery and Design Hub Gallery.

Entry is free, with an accompanying suite of public programs designed to further explore Antarctica’s cultural and environmental significance.