Mosman artist Ken Done converts his trip to Antarctica into a cool new exhibition

KEN Done is best known for being inspired by the tropics and the Australian coast. Not any more.

A trip to Antarctica with his family inspired Ken Done’s latest exhibition. Picture: John Appleyard

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KEN Done was eager to get to the Antarctic but dreaded getting seasick on the voyage.

“But the Drake Passage was as calm as Balmoral on a summer’s day,’’ he said.

However, comparisons with the landscape of home soon ended for the Mosman artist.

“Suddenly you see this giant iceberg and it’s a totally different and awesome environment,’’ he said.

Ken Done’s First Iceberg.

Done, his wife Judy and daughter Camilla went to the Antarctic last year with the Pinktarctica expedition in support of the McGrath Foundation.

“I’ve been everywhere else but never the Antarctic,’’ said Done.

“I’ve always thought of it as a little white strip on the bottom of the map but when you get there, you discover how big it is — it is the most astounding landscape.’’

The new exhibition sees a change of subject matter for Ken Done. Picture: John Appleyard

Done is best known for being inspired by the tropics and the Australian coast, painting broad stretches of sand dotted with colourful bathers.

So it’s quite a switch for Done to tackle the palette of the Antarctic.

“There is no beach scenes, no Balmoral bathers but plenty of penguins and quite beautiful colours, especially the intense, hypnotic colours within the icebergs,’’ he said.

People and Penguins I.

His Antarctic trip has prompted a series of 14 paintings, plus collages, by Done which will feature in an exhibition opening at his Rocks gallery on Tuesday

There are large canvases entitled, others are of glaciers and icebergs.

Antarctica Dark Sea.

One work People and Penguins shows the natural inhabitants alongside the “visiting voyeurs’.

Proceeds from the sale of the artworks will be shared by the McGrath Foundation and the Mawson’s Huts Foundation.

Antarctic exhibition

WHEN: June 7-July 5

WHERE: The Ken Done Gallery at 1-5 Hickson Rd, The Rocks, open 7 days, 10am-5.30pm

DETAILS: kendone.com