A powerful exhibition exploring Sir Ernest Shackleton’s legendary Antarctic expedition aboard the Endurance (1914-1917) has opened at the Scottish Maritime Museum on Irvine Harbourside.
Fortitudo by Italian artist Paola Folicaldi Suhfeatures scenes and portraits which vividly reimagine the extraordinary survival story of Shackleton and his crew who left Britain on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition or ‘Endurance Expedition’ in 1914. Although Shackleton failed to complete the first overland crossing of Antarctica via the South Pole, all 26 crew members survived despite two years stranded in the frozen wilderness.
Folicaldi Suh’s artworks draw on surviving black and white photographs taken by the expedition’s official photographer Frank Hurley and include oil paintings on sackcloth and mixed media panels combining oil and tempera on tapestry. Each piece is accompanied by quotes from Shackleton’s memoir ‘South’ as well as recollections by Endurance captain Frank Worsley and Aeneas Mackintosh, captain of the support vessel Aurora.
Born in Fermo, Italy, and now living in Stockholm, Folicaldi Suh is known for portraits and paintings with psychological introspection. Fortitudo marks her first foray into the world of polar exploration. The exhibition’s title Fortitudo is drawn, like the name Endurance, from the Shackleton family motto: ‘Fortitudine Vincimus’ – ‘through endurance we conquer’.
Eva Bukowska, Exhibitions and Events Officer at the Scottish Maritime Museum, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Paola Folicaldi Suh and host her remarkable exhibition Fortitudo. Folicaldi Suh dedicated over two years to researching the Endurance expedition. The result is a powerful and immersive series that breathes new life into this iconic chapter in maritime history.
“Her ability to convey the atmosphere, lighting and peril of the expedition is extraordinary. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see one of history’s greatest tales of survival and leadership through the perspective of a contemporary artist.”
Folicaldi Suh adds: “The story of Endurance is an amazing story of our humanity. As Jack London said: “The most beautiful stories always start with a wreckage. I am delighted that my paintings are now displayed to the public at the Scottish Maritime Museum.”
Fortitudo, which is included in Museum Admission, runs until 18 January.
Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine Harbourside
