By Domino Jones

This painting is inspired by discussions on accessibility in polar research that I’ve encountered at conferences over the past year. Accessibility is necessary to achieve a full understanding of polar regions. In the Arctic, this means recognising and elevating indigenous cultures, knowledge, and livelihoods. This is reflected in the first panel, featuring a Sami herder and their reindeer, and the second panel, depicting a Greenlandic fisher navigating an iceberg field. Accessibility also means welcoming people from all backgrounds in polar exploration. The third panel honours Barbara Hillary who, in 2011, became the first Black woman to reach both the North and South Poles.