MEDIA RELEASE

25/8/14

The Great White Continent of Antarctica Reveals More of Her Secrets

On 30 August two Antarctic themed exhibitions open at Canterbury Museum.

Hallett Station offers visitors the chance to view a genuine research station and discover what life was like down on the ice for researchers.

The station was a joint scientific base for the United States and New Zealand, built during the first International Geophysical Year (1957-1958) and finally abandoned in 1973, nine years after a fire destroyed the main scientific laboratory.
The exhibition looks at this base from the 1950s and 60s – closer in time and style to the huts of the original explorers such as Scott and Shackleton. Following final removal of the station between 2001 and 2005, key elements of the station were gifted to Canterbury Museum. Several huts, a fibreglass dome and ‘The Duck’ – a D4 Caterpillar bulldozer – feature in the Hallett Station exhibition.

This unique glimpse into the past is joined by a vision of futuristic imagination in a second exhibition that is part of NZ IceFest.

Ice Lab: Contemporary architecture and science in Antarctica is commissioned by the British Council, curated by The Arts Catalyst and is an international touring exhibition. It will feature five innovative designs of Antarctica research stations, illustrating how contemporary cutting-edge architecture is enabling scientists to live and work in one of the most extreme environments on our planet.

Canterbury Museum Director Anthony Wright says “We’re delighted to celebrate Christchurch’s long time connection with Antarctic exploration and research with not one, but two contrasting exhibitions. All human activity in Antarctic impacts on the environment, and both these exhibitions show how hard we now work to minimise those impacts”.

NZ IceFest celebrates New Zealand's unique relationship with Antarctica and the Southern Ocean through its dynamic programme of Antarctic-themed activities. Dates: 27 Sept to 12 Oct 2014. Find out more at www.nzicefest.co.nz

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