North / South is a solar plate etching, created from a photograph taken by Relly whilst on a sailing expedition in Svalbard in the High Arctic in 2014. Multiple exposures of glaciers and mountains in the original negative, alter the impression of the landscape and contribute to the sense of motion experienced on board a moving ship. Translating the image into the printmaking medium invites unpredictable outcomes – details are lost and new shapes emerge, hinting at the vulnerability and impermanence of the environment. The print takes on an archival quality reminiscent of photographs by early Polar explorers, which have been an influence in this series of Relly’s work.
