Ecos do Gelo: Arte & Ciência na Antártica

Abstract

This book provides an account of the various outreach activities and artistic works resulting from collaboration with scientists from the Brazilian Antarctic Expedition, Operantar 38. During the time aboard the Brazilian Navy's research vessel, I had the opportunity to work alongside oceanographers, physicists, chemists, and marine biologists, which significantly expanded my understanding of the challenges and beauties of the Antarctic environment. This work is structured in three parts: first, a narrative of the work and collaboration with the scientists; next, the catalog of the artistic works created as a result of this collaboration; and finally, a third part that consists of a photographic essay expressing my vision of Antarctica. The text of the book is entirely written in Portuguese and English. During the days of boarding, I read several books about explorers, artists, and sailors who were in Antarctica before me. The highlighted quotes are fragments from these readings. The invitation to participate in this project and the expedition was extended by Prof. Dr. Carlos Lentini, who, since my entry as a professor at UFBA, has been a constant support for my Art & Science projects at Ecoarte. My entry into the project came through scientific outreach, which was a requirement of the call for proposals. The initial proposal was to develop outreach actions using videos, websites, photos, and social media, as well as, enthusiastically, to suggest integrating art as a fundamental component. The resulting artistic works include video art, rotoscopic video, data visualizations, audiovisual performances, experimental cartography, fulldome projection, photography, and design. These works, as part of an ambitious art and research project, aim not only to document the experience but also to highlight the importance of science and foster significant collaboration between art and science. Furthermore, these initiatives seek to create environmental awareness, raising consciousness about the preservation of nature in one of the planet's most vulnerable ecosystems. In this context, I invite the reader to embark on this journey that explores the intersections between art, science, and our relationship with the environment, reflecting on the discoveries and lessons that Antarctica has to offer.