Three glaciers, Patagonia, 2016, oil on linen, 122 x 97 cm
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In November 2015, Ken Done made a trip to the Antarctic Peninsula with Chimu Adventures. The expedition, called ‘Pinktarctica’ in support of the McGrath Foundation, resulted in an exhibition of unexpected work from an artist who is best known for being inspired by the tropics and the Australian coast.
Left to right: Antarctic pin-up II, Antarctic pin-up I, Antarctic pin-up VI, Antarctic pin-up IV, 2016, acrylic on digital print, 84.5 x 68 cm
‘There is nothing like the grandeur or feeling of the Antarctic Continent. There are astounding colours there, in a palette that I’m not used to working with - and then there are the colours from my mind.’
Pinktartica I, 2016, oil on linen, 40 x 50 cm
The collection comprises fourteen paintings, as well as two limited edition prints, and features the unique Antarctic landscape as well as a surprising group of pin-up works: hand-coloured digital collages based on photographs taken at the old British base of Port Lockroy.
The largest of the paintings Blue ice I and Blue ice II are cool abstractions depicting the masses of ice sheeting in the landscape. Four medium canvases, Ice cliff, Evening icebergs, Icebergs Antarctica and Three glaciers Patagonia, reflect Ken’s favoured use of the divided picture plane. People and Penguins introduces both the natural inhabitants of the landscape - and the visiting voyeurs.
First iceberg, 2016, oil on board, 35.5 x 45.5 cm
‘I loved the bright pattern of the people and the incredible graphic forms of the penguins. I’ve painted them symbolically rather than attempting any form of illustration.’
Penguins and people III, 2015, oil on linen, 122 x 97 cm
The exhibition was shown in his Sydney gallery from June 7 - July 5 2016 and proceeds from the sales of all works were shared between the McGrath Foundation and the Mawson’s Huts Foundation.
Left to right: Antarctica 10, Antarctica 8, Antarctica 7, Antarctica 9, 2015, acrylic and oil crayon on paper, 43.5 x 35.5 cm
The McGrath Foundation
Jane McGrath’s personal experience has seen a team of passionate and dedicated people come together and step up to the challenge of making life for families experiencing breast cancer just that little bit easier.
The McGrath Foundation raises money to place McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities across Australia as well as increasing breast awareness in young people. These nurses provide invaluable physical, psychological and emotional support from the time of diagnosis and throughout the treatment, and this support is provided free of charge. Since 2005, the McGrath Foundation has supported more than 44,000 families experiencing breast cancer.
The Mawson's Huts Foundation
The Mawson’s Huts Foundation is a not for profit charity established in 1997 expressly to conserve the historic wooden huts at Cape Denison, East Antarctica which were used by Douglas Mawson’s Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) of 1911-14. Now a major tourist attraction for cruise ships when ice conditions allow, Mawson’s Huts are the birthplace of Australia’s Antarctic heritage and are protected by Australian and international law. To help raise funds for their conservation the Foundation built and operates the Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum on the Hobart waterfront which is rated on Trip Advisor as the No 1 museum in Hobart.
Chimu Adventures
Founded in 2004, Chimu Adventures is an Australian owned travel company offering fully flexible itineraries to Latin America, plus cruises to Antarctica, catering to clients of all ages. Chimu’s philosophy is simple, “use specialised knowledge to work with our clients, accommodating their individual needs at reasonable prices”.
Our team is committed to the destinations which we operate in and are proud members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) and International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA).
