"Inspired by Marina Warner’s writing on Phantasmagoria Productions, this early 19th Century magic lantern show crystallized my thoughts on photography’s relationship to the fantastical and the tragic. Robert McFarlane’s writing on Mallory’s failed expedition to Mount Everest in his book Mountains of the Mind and Herbert Pontin photographs of the Scott Expedition to the South Pole, I began a search through photography archives for early images of polar expeditions.
I was particularly struck by a small collection
of photographs correspondence, and news clippings from what is known as The
Andre Expedition. The Andre Expedition, led by the Swedish balloonist S.A Andre
in 1897, aimed to be the first to reach the North Pole by hydrogen balloon. The
Expedition failed with all three members of the team lost. In 1930 the bodies,
and effects of the men were discovered. Amongst
diaries and journals there were also rolls of photographic film. Sets of prints
were made and sent to museums across the world. Along with the prints each
museum received a report detailing the process undertaken to develop and
preserve the films. By working with this collection, my intention has been to
develop irreal landscapes utilising technologies associated with photography. " Jacqueline Butler
The project, titled White Island Kvitøya, reflects on Jacqueline's developing
philosophy on the consolidation of old and new photographic technologies with
pre-photography materiality and intellectual thinking.
On white Island Kvitøya is part of current thoughts and ideas and at this stage is in development.
Jacqueline will be discussing this project at the following conferences:
Rethinking Early Photography
University of Lincoln, 16-17th June 2015
21st Century Photography: Art, Philosophy, Technique
UAL Central St Martins, 5th-6th June 2015
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