The Heart of the Great Alone exhibition opening

I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.   Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the evening (Sign)

I then specifically greet you: Michael McEvedy, Chair of the Canterbury Museum Trust Board and your fellow trustees; Anthony Wright, Director of the Canterbury Museum and your fellow staff; Anthony Holden, Editor of The Press and Christopher Moore, Arts Editor; Your Excellency Patrick Renault, Ambassador for the Kingdom of Belgium to New Zealand, Irish Consul-General Rodney Walshe and fellow members of the Diplomatic Corps; Representatives from local government, particularly Deputy Mayor Norm Withers, Kelvin Cox, Mayor of Selwyn District and Former Mayor of Christchurch, Gary Moore; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for inviting my wife Susan and I to the opening of The Heart of the Great Alone: Scott, Shackleton and Antarctic Photography here at the Robert McDougall Gallery this evening.

As Governor-General and Patron of the Antarctic Heritage Trust, I have been asked to formally open the exhibition, but before I do I would like to take this opportunity to read a brief message from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of New Zealand.  The message reads as follows:

“I take great pleasure in sending you my warmest good wishes for the opening of the exhibition, The Heart of the Great Alone, at the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch.  These photographs, so kindly presented to my grandfather, represent a continuing link between my family and Antarctic exploration; this exhibition strengthens that relationship.  This year many will be commemorating the centenary of Captain Scott’s exhibition, especially in New Zealand where the Terra Nova set sail for the Antarctic and the photographer Herbert Ponting joined the ship. I hope this display of remarkable photographs of two of the greatest twentieth-century journeys to the South Pole will serve as an inspiration to a new generation of explorers and researchers.”

As The Queen’s message makes clear, Antarctica has long held an intriguing fascination for explorers and others. It is a land of extremes—the coldest, driest and windiest place on Earth and, some would attest, the most beautiful. American explorer, Admiral Richard Byrd, described this combination of wondrous beauty in a most hostile and forbidding environments when he wrote: “At the bottom of this planet is an enchanted continent in the sky, pale like a sleeping princess. Sinister and beautiful, she lies in frozen slumber.”

For New Zealanders, the southern continent is always at the back of our minds.  In the middle of winter, when a southerly storm brings snow, hail, sleet, rain and a cold wind that seems to cut right through our bones, we all know where such weather comes from.  It is at these times that we recognise that Antarctica has its own way of making its presence felt in our lives.

New Zealand has played a pivotal role in humanity’s ongoing exploration and understanding of Antarctica. As a founding signatory in 1959 of Antarctic Treaty, New Zealand played a crucial role in the negotiations that created this unique agreement.  By setting aside disputes around sovereignty, the Treaty ensured that Antarctica was to remain a land of peace.   New Zealand scientists, in collaboration with those from throughout the world, are undertaking leading edge research into Antarctica’s flora and fauna and geological and climatic history. 

For Christchurch and New Zealand that is not a new role.  New Zealand and this city were the last staging post for many of the first explorers of Antarctica.  The stories of the expeditions of Amundsen, Scott, Shackleton, Byrd, Mawson, Fuchs, Hillary and many others have become the stuff of legend.  They are stories that speak of adventure, heroism, courage and self-sacrifice, the triumph of the human spirit and, sadly, on occasion, of tragic consequences.  

This exhibition focuses on two of these expeditions—the ill-fated 1910-13 Terra Nova expedition led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott to the South Pole and Ernest Shackleton’s epic polar expedition on Endurance in 1914-16. Both expeditions were marked by heroic deeds and, in the case of Scott’s expedition, great tragedy. 

However, they also occurred at a time when significant advances were being made in photographic and film technology, allowing key images and events from these expeditions to be captured forever.  As Scott wrote: “We shall have a cinematograph and photographic record which will be absolutely new in expeditionary work.”

The work of Englishman Herbert Ponting, who photographed Scott’s expedition, and Australian Frank Hurley’s work on Shackleton’s expedition, stand as a living testament of the “heroic” age of polar exploration.   The photographs and film capture the dramatic landscapes and exotic animals which the explorers encountered and also aspects of everyday life for the expedition members.  

Ponting’s photographs, for example, also include images of Scott’s last birthday dinner, the ponies which were used for transport and, most poignantly, the cairn which the search party constructed over the bodies of Captain Scott and his companions.

Likewise, Hurley’s work includes photographs of polar landscapes and dramatic images of the ice-bound Endurance being gradually consumed by the elements, forcing her crew to make their historic trip across the ice and sea to eventual safety.

These images were later presented to King George V and today form part of the Royal Photograph Collection.  They are, without doubt, among some of the finest examples of the work of these artists in existence.  They also speak of the Royal Family’s interest and support of these expeditions. 

First exhibited at the Queen’s Gallery at the Palace of  Holyroodhouse from October to April this year, I understand Canterbury Museum to be the exclusive international venue for this exhibition.  I can think of no more fitting city or venue in which to feature these evocative images than Christchurch and the Canterbury Museum, which has its own extensive Antarctic collection. 

This city has a deep historic connection with the southern continent, and one that remains strong and vital to this day.  As the home of Antarctica New Zealand, the Crown agency that delivers the New Zealand Government’s Antarctic programme, Christchurch plays a significant role in providing a focus for this valuable work.  It is also the home of the International Antarctic Centre, Operation Deep Freeze and Gateway Antarctica, the University of Canterbury’s centre for Antarctic Studies.  I therefore want to congratulate everyone who has been involved in bringing this exhibition to New Zealand and Christchurch. 

Before formally opening this exhibition, it seems fitting, given that this exhibition marks the centenary of the start of Scott’s expedition, that I quote from the Captain’s last message.  It reads:   “We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of providence, determined still to do our best to the last ... Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale.”

While Scott’s diary, and the accounts of Shackleton’s expedition “tell the tale” of their heroism, the photographs taken by Ponting and Hurley give them life and will help ensure those remarkable stories continue to inspire those who follow.

And on that note of congratulation and respect, it gives me great pleasure to officially declare this exhibition, The Heart of the Great Alone, formally open and I will close in New Zealand’s first language offering everyone greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours.    No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.

To find out more, visit the Royal Collection website click here

To find out more about the Canterbury Museum, click here