By Gabriella Payne
A renowned Emerald photographer is being celebrated alongside three fellow artists in a set of new stamps by Australia Post, which will feature four previous Antarctic Arts Fellowship recipients on their separate journeys to the stunning icy landscape.
The Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship program was an idea born in 1984, as a way of artistically capturing and sharing the beauty of the frozen continent through a range of different mediums.
Over the years, this program has enabled over 70 artists from a wide range of disciplines to make the voyage to Antarctica, with a local Emerald photographer, David Neilson, being one of them.
Mr Neilson, a two-time recipient of the program, has taken some breathtaking images of the frozen land and its wildlife over his two fellowship trips and said it was “an unexpected honour” to have been chosen as one of the featured artists on this new range of stamps.
“I feel honoured that I’ve been chosen to essentially represent the photography discipline, as there have been a lot of other photographers who have taken part in the program over the years,” Mr Neilson said.
Featured in his internationally recognised book, ‘Southern Light – Images from Antarctica’, Mr Neilson’s work captures stunning icy landscapes and remote penguin rookeries – some of which will be featured on this limited edition stamp.
“It’s a good way of highlighting the fellowships, as they are still continuing,” Mr Neilson said.
As well as Mr Neilson, the three other artists set to be featured include harpist Alice Giles AM, painter and sculptor John Kelly and sound artist and academic Dr Philip Samartzis, who all had very unique experiences on their trips to Antarctica.
This range of stamps will help promote the program and encourage all sorts of other artists to apply for this incredible experience, which help showcase the beauty of Antarctica.
“It’s a pretty remarkable experience,” Mr Neilson said.
“I was very fortunate to spend two summers at the Morson station,” he said, in which time he was able to capture many rare and inspiring sights.
“I was very lucky to get to a number of the penguin rookeries, and even an emperor penguin rookery which is rarely visited, so that was a definite highlight of my time there,” Mr Neilson said.
Although the journey to Antarctica is long, involving a two week boat voyage across the Southern Ocean and a helicopter ride directly into the station, Mr Neilson said it was an unbelievable experience and encouraged other artists to apply for the fellowship.
The Antarctic Arts Fellowship stamps were released on Tuesday 16 March and are available at participating post offices and online at auspost.com.au/stamps
