Sensing Antarctica

Abstract

Full of superlatives, the Antarctic continent has been represented as the most desert, coldest and wildest location of all places on earth; an apt location for archeology, a discipline often associated with adventure. To reflect on these considerations and critique the traditional ways of presenting Archaeology and Antarctica in science, LEACH-UFMG has proposed an alternative mediation that encourages communication with both. Using exhibits, plays, comic books, sticker albums, among others, the idea is to use the elements that normally make Antarctica and Archaeology interesting for people without, however, oversimplifying. Specifically in this paper we will report an experience that we had at Espaço do Conhecimento UFMG which was a sensorial exhibit, resulting from the collaborative work of Mediantar (Antarctica Medicine), Mycoantar (Antarctica Microbiology) and “White Landscape” (Antarctic Archaeology and Anthropology) projects, all carried out by UFMG. This exhibit called “Antarctic expedition” was on display from December 7th 2017 to May 20th 2018 and was visited by 30573 people.

Keywords

• Mediation
• Corporeality
• Senses
• Antarctica
• Historical archeology
• Sensory exhibition