Davis – The Next Cultural Capital
DAVIS STATION — In what experts are already describing as “possibly award-winning”, and “probably better than the MONA”, Davis Station opened its doors on Saturday night for an extraordinary showcase of Antarctic artistic talent.
The inaugural Davis 79th Art Show brought together a remarkable collection of paintings, drawings, multimedia works, crafts and textiles, proving once and for all that culture can flourish even amongst some of the most hermitic tradies on Earth.
Visitors were treated to an eclectic and thought-provoking collection of works, ranging from genuinely impressive to deeply conceptual. A diverse genre of works were displayed including classical oil paintings, water colours, modern art, videography of the incredible landscape and sensual sculptures. Several of the pieces offered powerful political commentaries on contemporary issues, specifically targeting the "slushy roster" and equipment RTA. The evening, proudly sponsored by the Davis Wine Club, was accompanied by a carefully curated selection of wines — specifically, whatever was still left at this point in the season — and a delicious spread of canapés. Nothing sharpens one’s appreciation of art quite like few well-timed beverages.
The success of Saturday’s exhibition was the culmination of a genuine labour of love. For months, Davis’s emerging artistic community has been nurturing its talents through regular Paint and Sip and Craft and Converse evenings. Week by week, expeditioners experimented with colour, texture and materials while simultaneously expressing their views on an increasingly prickly selection of topics. The results were, appropriately, mixed — both in the artwork produced and in the conversations that accompanied it.
But that, after all, is the essence of art. It doesn't have to be beautiful; it simply needs to provoke thought, spark conversation, or compel someone to stare in silence, pretending to find some deeper meaning in the artist’s choice of blue (perhaps a reflection of her deep loneliness on this desolate land?)
The People’s Choice Award went to Ash Forrest for her series of intricate watercolours depicting the huts around the Vestfolds, arranged in a postage-stamp-style. Runner Up went to Mick Mercer for his oil painting “The Sled Dogs” which captured the movement of snow and ice across the Vestfold Hills. A selection of works was also put up for auction on the night, raising more than $1,000 for charity.
With such a successful inaugural exhibition, rumours are already circulating that Davis could soon find itself mentioned alongside the world's most avant-garde cultural capitals. Paris, London, New York and, apparently, Davis. The world must prepare itself for the next masterpiece.
