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Antarctica is a land associated with discovery, danger, and fragile beauty. Australian artists have played a key role in propagating understandings of the far south\u2014work that the international Creative Antarctica project celebrates, with the help of one of Flinders\u2019 own.<\/span><\/p>\n Most people will never travel to Antarctica,\u00a0but rather form their ideas about the continent vicariously, through the images, sounds, and stories created by those few who do visit. Creative works thus provide a crucial means through which perceptions of and attitudes toward Antarctica are built by observing\u00a0and recording tensions\u00a0between climate, landscape, technology,\u00a0politics\u00a0and humans. One of those creators is Flinders\u2019 Dr Sean Williams<\/a>, expeditioner to Casey station<\/a> as part of a competitive Arts Fellowship through the Australian Antarctic Division and CI of the ARC Discovery Project Creative Antarctica.<\/p>\n Creative Antarctica is a funded multi-institutional, international research project dedicated to charting the work of over 140 Australian artists, writers and composers who have visited Antarctica in a professional capacity. These creative artists have travelled to many parts of the continent, including the South Pole, and by many routes, including whaling vessels, private yachts, tourism operators, heritage trusts, and environmental organisations, as well as through residencies with the Australian and other national programs.<\/p>\n Like Sean, they have drawn our attention to the continent\u2019s heroic (and unheroic) histories; the unearthly, almost abstract beauty of its icescapes; its appealing wildlife; and its increasing susceptibility to human impact, particularly from climate change.<\/p>\n However, many Australians\u00a0\u2013\u00a0including lovers of art, music, and literature, as well as Antarctic enthusiasts \u2013 are quite unaware of this fascinating and still-evolving creative exploration. Now is the perfect time to expand your horizons.<\/p>\n