The Endurance Photographs

In 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton set out on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition aboard the Endurance, aiming to make the first land crossing of Antarctica. Instead, the journey became one of the most extraordinary survival stories in history when the ship was trapped and ultimately crushed by pack ice in the Weddell Sea.

Accompanying the expedition was photographer Frank Hurley, whose images have come to define this expedition. Working in some of the most extreme conditions on Earth, Hurley created a remarkable visual record of life on the ice.

As the situation deteriorated, Hurley was forced to make a decision, selecting only a small number of glass plate negatives to save, destroying the rest to lighten the load during the crew’s desperate escape. Those that survived are among the most iconic expedition photographs ever made, transforming what began as a scientific mission into a powerful visual narrative of endurance, leadership and human spirit.

This exhibition brings together a selection of Hurley’s photographs from the expedition. They capture not only the stark beauty of Antarctica, but also the courage, ingenuity and perseverance that ensured the survival of all 27 men.