Australian Antarctic Territory: Arts Fellowship

Overview

Since 1984, the Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship program has enabled artists and writers to travel to Antarctica and create work inspired by their experiences and insights. The program seeks to increase awareness and appreciation of Antarctica and the subantarctic, including its unique environment and rich history. Through their Antarctic-inspired creations, fellows have done much to promote the icy continent and the work of the Australian Antarctic Program to Australians and the world.

The annual fellowships are made possible by the Australian Antarctic Division with support from ANAT, an Australian organisation that creates opportunities for artists to work with art, science and technology partners. The fellowships are awarded via a national application and selection process, which opens annually in March.

The stamps in this issue feature photographs of past fellowship participants in Antarctica, as well as graphic motifs, to showcase four arts practices that are typical to the program.

Technical specifications

Issue date: 16 March 2021
Issue withdrawal date: 30 September 2021
Denomination: $1.10 x 2, $2.20 x 2
Stamp design: Sharon Rodziewicz, Australia Post Design Studio
Product design: Sharon Rodziewicz, Australia Post Design Studio
Paper: gummed: Tullis Russell 104gsm Red Phos./Blue PVA
Printer: RA Printing
Printing process: Offset lithography
Stamp size (mm): 37.5 x 26
Minisheet size (mm): 170 x 80
Perforations: 13.86 x 14.6
Sheet layout: Module of 50
FDI Postmark: Kingston Tas. 7050
FDI withdrawal date: 14 April 2021

Stamps in this issue

$1.10 - Music Performance

During her fellowship, Harpist Alice Giles AM celebrated the centenary of the first Australasian Antarctic expedition with live performances of Australian musical works at Davis and Mawson stations, as well as recordings of the harp in the natural environment. The music excerpt on the stamp is from Aurora Wynnis (composer, Martin Wesley-Smith), which is one of the pieces performed by Alice Giles during her fellowship. The specific excerpt is an arrangement of part of the folk song "Annie Laurie", which is included in the larger work. The stamp photograph is by Glenn Jacobson, courtesy of the Australian Antarctic Division.

$1.10 - Painting

Painter and sculptor John Kelly braved the elements to create a series of en plein air paintings, directly responding to the landscape, as part of his fellowship. The paintings have been exhibited internationally and published in his book Beyond Woop Woop.

$2.20 - Sound Recording

Two-time arts fellow, sound artist and academic Dr Philip Samartzis explored the impacts of extreme environmental conditions on people, as well as the interaction of katabatic (downslope) wind with the built and natural environments.

$2.20 - Photography

Photographer David Neilson, another two-time fellow, produced striking photography for use by the Australian Conservation Foundation and for his book Southern Light: Images from Antarctica.