Untitled ("The Castle iceberg as seen in Melville Bay in July") 1869

Curator: This photograph by John L. Dunmore captures an iceberg as seen in Melville Bay in July. The tones and scale give it such a stark presence. Editor: It does evoke a sense of isolation, doesn’t it? I wonder about the colonial gaze here—documenting the Arctic as a resource to be exploited. Curator: Exactly. Consider the materiality of the photograph itself, the paper, the chemicals used. These are all products of industry, of a globalized economy that’s literally melting these icebergs. Editor: And who had access to these images? It highlights the power dynamics at play, shaping perceptions of the Arctic and its people. It's a statement about what it means to document and categorize nature. Curator: Indeed. The very act of photographing becomes an act of possession, of imposing a certain order. Editor: Ultimately, it makes me question what's been gained and lost. Curator: It's a potent reminder of the complex and often destructive relationship between humans and the environment.