Fossil Cairn - The Weight of Destiny

• Main Author: Jenkinson, ML
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: Antarctic; Bowers; Cairn; Christchurch; Endeavour; South Pole; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica; South pole
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/11135

This installation features photographs of the fossil and mineral samples gathered by Robert Falcon Scott and his polar party on their ill-fated return journey from the South Pole in 1907. I traveled to London to photograph what is called The Scott Collection, in the Natural History Museum, London, at the end of 2006. These photographs form the basis of the installation. Taking on the form of the snow cairn built by the advance party over the tent containing the bodies of Scott, Bowers and Wilson, after they were found, Fossil Cairn is a memorial to the lives of those lost. In addition, the pile of rocks is intended to act as a visual catalyst for a wider discussion of issues relating to human endeavour. The Scott Collection of fossils and minerals is of interest for what they reveal about a much older Antarctica, when forests flourished in more moderate temperatures. They are also inextricably connected to Scott’s endeavor to be first to The Pole, and its subsequent tragic consequences. It is ironic that although such careful plans were laid, with the weights of provisions carefully calculated in relation to distances to be crossed, the additional, negative, weight these samples contributed to the men’s burden was calculated in favour of their value, increasing our understanding of the world. But rather than dwell exclusively on Scott’s demise, however, the text also draws into the discussion issues relating to aspects of weight, time, dilemma, decision-making, and their effect on destiny. In addition to the 150 wall mounted rocks in cairn-form, the installation included several other items such as: a copy of an historic photograph of the snow cairn built over the bodies; a large ‘Snow Flake’ diagram of 42 texts which expand on themes contained within the exhibition; and a display case with one of the rock samples and a tin of biscuits (both loaned from the Canterbury Museum Antarctica collection). • ‘Fossil Cairn – The Weight of Destiny’, featured in b. 151 (Bulletin of the Christchurch Art Gallery) pages 28-29, illustrated, and with a short essay I wrote for the magazine. • ‘Cairn Recalls Scott Tragedy’ – review and illustration in The Press, 5 December 2007. • Lecture, Christchurch Art Gallery, Montana Wednesday Evening Lecture Series, 27 February 2008. • Paper ‘Ponderable Matter’ delivered at the Antarctic Visions conference, University of Tasmania, Hobart, June 23.