nanoq: flat out and bluesome
snæbjörnsdóttir/wilson
24th January - 5th April 2009
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, Leicester
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PLEASE NOTE: THIS EXHIBITION HAS NOW CLOSED
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Exhibition events
nanoq – flat out and bluesome is the story of polar bears, the largest land predators on earth, and their journey from the arctic wilderness to the museums and stately homes of the UK.
Charting the uneasy relationship between the wild and its representation in our museums, galleries and media, nanoq also highlights the current plight of polar bears who are facing extinction because of the destruction of their habitat.
Between 2002 and 2004, artists Bryndís Snæbjörnsdóttir and Mark Wilson undertook a survey of all the taxidermied polar bears in the UK. 33 stuffed polar bears were traced and photographed in situ.
This research forms the exhibitions photographic works. Documenting the histories of each bear – its place of capture or shooting, the name of the person responsible, the nature or purpose of the expedition, the bear’s history in captivity, its age at death.
The photographed situations of the polar bears range from cluttered or pristine natural history displays, through collections of colonial artefacts within stately homes to the domestic and unpretentious surroundings of private residences.
Adapted to each location, Leicester’s exhibition also features Peppy the Polar Bear – the mascot of Foxes Glacier Mints from Leicester Arts & Museums Service collections.
The touring photographic exhibition has previous exhibited at sites including, The University of Iceland, The Horniman Museum and the Fram Museum, Oslo. nanoq also recently featured as part of HEAT: Art and Climate Change in Melbourne.
Image: snæbjörnsdóttir/wilson – Exeter. Copyright the artist.
Exhibition events:
Nanuq: Icon, Sentient Being, Resource –
Inuit and Polar Bears in the Canadian Arctic
Saturday 31st January
2.30pm – 3.30pm
An illustrated talk by environmental anthropologist Dr Martina Tyrrell of the University of Reading on the interactions between polar bears and humans. Not suitable for young children. £2.70
Bear Faces
Wednesday 18th February
10.30am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 4.00pm
Create a polar bear mask inspired by our own Peppy the polar bear and the “nanoq: flat out and bluesome” exhibition. £1.70 for activities.
Peppy Puppet
Saturday 7th March
10.30am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 4.00pm
Make you own puppet version of Peppy the polar bear and take a look around the “nanoq: flat out and bluesome” exhibition. £1.70 for activities.
Arctic Art
Saturday 28th March 2009
10.30am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 4.00pm
Make a polar collage inspired by nanoq: flat out and bluesome exhibition and our own Peppy the polar bear. £1.70 for activities.
Polar Explorers
Saturday 4th April
10.30am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 4.00pm
Be a polar explorer with our activity pack and track the polar bears around the museum. Puzzles, trails, games and badge making. £1.70 per explorer.
Exhibition opening hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10.00am - 5.00pm
Sunday: 11.00am - 5.00pm
Free admission to exhibition
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