Antarctica

Antarctica

Embodiment of a ‘Global Village’

Antarctic Village is a symbol of the plight of those struggling to transverse borders and to gain the freedom of movement necessary to escape political and social conflict. Dotted along the ice, the tents formed a settlement reminiscent of the images of refugee camps we see so often reported about on our television screens and newspapers. The project was led by Lucy Orta, Professor of Art, Fashion and the Environment at London College of Fashion.

From February-March 2007, Lucy and her husband and partner Jorge Orta installed Antarctic Village in Antarctica, travelling from Buenos Aires aboard the Hercules KC130 flight on an incredible journey. Taking place during the Austral summer, the ephemeral installation coincided with the last of the scientific expeditions before the winter months, before the ice mass becomes too thick to traverse. Aided by the logistical crew and scientists stationed at the Marambio Antarctic Base situated on the Seymour-Marambio Island, (64°14’S 56°37’W), Jorge Orta scouted the continent by helicopter, searching for different locations for the temporary encampment of their 50 dome-shaped dwellings.

Physically the installation Antarctic Village is emblematic of Ortas’ body of work, composed of what could be termed modular architecture and reflecting qualities of nomadic shelters and campsites. The dwellings themselves are hand stitched together by a traditional tent maker with sections of flags from countries around the world, along with extensions of clothes and gloves, symbolising the multiplicity and diversity of people. Here the arm of face-less white-collar worker’s shirt hangs, there the sleeve of a children’s sweater. Together the flags and dissected clothes emblazoned with silkscreen motifs referencing the UN Declaration for Human Rights make for a physical embodiment of a ‘Global Village’.

Profile: Lucy Orta

As a practicing artist Lucy’s research bridges mobility, clothing and architecture investigating their common social factors such as communication and identity, and building on the relationship fashion has to the body and the potential to bring about social change. The most emblematic stands of the object based research are Refuge Wear, Body Architecture and Nexus Architecture, as well as creating a new body of work Urban Life Guards which looks at the body as a metaphorical supportive structure.

Lucy’s research has also extended to working collaboratively on broader sustainability issues, encompassing both the ecological and the social; health and wellbeing. These projects include OrtaWater; 70 x 7 The Meal and Antarctica, investigating issues effecting access to drinking water, food recycling, sustainability and mobility.

As a member of the Centre for Sustainable Fashion at London College of Fashion, and the University Research Centre for Fashion Body and Material Cultures, Lucy mentors practice-based researchers entering the field of fashion, which has been predominantly occupied by historians and theorists. Together with Dr Frances Corner, head of London College of Fashion, and research colleagues (historians, theorists, sociologists, psychologists, scientists, designers and artists), a discussion forum has been created called Better Lives, which is designed to extend the influence of fashion economically, socially and politically, looking at how fashion can play a central role in our health, environment and wider social context and exploring ways that these agendas can be incorporated into the mainstream of fashion education and research.