I'm Going Outside & May Be Some Time (Let's Get This Over With)

Etching & Aquatint on Cold Press Fabriano Paper, 20 x 13 cm

Inspired by the famous death of Antarctic Explorer - Captain Oates - who walked out into a blizzard supposedly announcing the words, ‘I am going outside and may be some time’. This was seen as a heroic and necessary sacrifice at the time, and used as a strong piece of imperial propaganda for the British empire, to show off its strength and commitment to duty. Planned as a diptych, this was part of a larger series investigating how this story was used, as well as attempting to both humanise and condemn this kind of action.